Loss of Bone Mass Linked to Contraceptive

Posted on January 13, 2010 in Health & Medicine, Recent Studies, Women's Health

Almost half of women who use the contraceptive Depo-Provera lost a significant amount of bone mass in two years, according to a new study. Researchers say that smokers, women who have never been pregnant and women who don’t consume enough calcium are particularly at risk.

The study tracked women who received a shot of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, also known as DMPA or Depo-Provera, every three months. Forty-five percent of the study subjects experienced bone mineral density losses of 5 percent or more in the hip or lower spine. The researchers said that the bone loss was significant because recovering bone mass can be a slow process. Many women experience hip fractures later in life.

Over two million women in the United States choose Depo-Provera as a birth-control method. Researchers caution women to take calcium supplements and avoid smoking if they use the contraceptive. The study was published in the January issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.