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Effects of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on Bone Density and Bone Metabolism before and after Peak Bone Mass: A Case-Control Study

Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, Northern General Hospital, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S5 7AU, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. J. S. Walsh, Academic Unit of Bone Metabolism, Sorby Wing, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, United Kingdom. E-mail: jenniferwalsh{at}doctors.org.uk.

Introduction: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; Depo-Provera, Tadworth, UK) contraception is used by more than 9 million women worldwide and has a high usage among teenagers in the United Kingdom and the United States. Previous studies have found that DMPA use is associated with a bone density deficit.

Objectives: This case-control matched study aims to eliminate potential confounding factors, identify whether the effect of DMPA on the skeleton is age specific, and determine the effects of DMPA on hormones and bone turnover.

Design/Participants: We measured bone density, bone turnover, and hormones in individually matched case-control pairs of women: 50 pairs aged 18–25 yr and 50 pairs aged 35–45 yr.

Results: DMPA use was associated with a 5% bone density deficit at the lumbar spine and hip in women who started DMPA use before age 20 yr but not after age 34 yr. Bone turnover was increased in DMPA users in both age groups. DMPA users had lower estradiol and higher IGF-I than controls, and younger DMPA users had higher dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate than controls. In a multiple regression model, estradiol and IGF-I were associated with bone turnover, but addition of DMPA to the model made the association with estradiol nonsignificant.

Conclusions: DMPA use is associated with a bone density deficit at the spine and hip when used before peak bone mass. DMPA acts on the skeleton mainly through estrogen deficiency.

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