BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN LONG-TERM DEPOT MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE ACCEPTORS

The study of bone density in long-term DMPA users is reported. The aim s were to study and compare bone density in long-term DMPA users with intrauterine device (IUD) users. Fifty current users of DMPA with a mi nimum 36 months previous use were compared to 50 current IUD users as control. The bone mineral density was measured by dual energy x-ray ab sorptiometry (DEXA) at the non-dominant distal and ultradistal forearm ?. Serum estradiol was measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay te chnique in both groups. Age, income, weight, height, BMI; and parity o f both groups were matched. The mean bone mineral density of distal fo rearm in DMPA and IUD users was 0.48 +/- 0.05 g/cm(2) in both groups. The mean bone mineral density of ultradistal forearm was 0.38 +/- 0.06 g/cm(2) in DMPA users and 0.4 +/- 0.05 g/cm(2) in IUD users. No diffe rences in mean bone mineral density of distal and ultradistal forearm between DMPA and IUD users was demonstrated (95% CI -0.02, 0.02 and -0 .04, 0.001, respectively). However, the serum estradiol levels were si gnificantly different between DMPA and IUD users (95% CI -122, -68.1). From this study, it is suggested that long-term DMPA use should not h ave any adverse effect on bone density even if it reduces serum estrad iol. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.