February 10, 2005 - New Research on Bone Density in Adolescents Using Depo-Provera

A new study appears to show that adolescent girls who lose bone mineral density while using the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera make up for the loss when they stop use of the contraceptive, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). "This study shows that after adolescents stop using DPMA [depot Medroxyprogesterone acetate, marketed under the brand name Depo-Provera] their bone density can increase to levels comparable to those of other women in their age group," said NICHD Director Dr. Duane Alexander. Previous studies had shown that women who use DMPA experience a loss of bone mineral density during the time they are using it, and researchers have been concerned especially about adolescents, since women develop a large amount of their bone mass between the ages of 15 to 19. It's believed that DMPA interferes with bone mineral density by lowering levels of estrogen, a hormone that promotes bone mineral density in women. It is not known whether oral contraceptives, which also contain hormones, also affect bone mineral density, and NICHD says it is conducting a study to address this issue. The findings appear in the February 2005 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.