Bone Health · Hormones and Bone

Bone mineral changes in young women with hypothalamic amenorrhea treated with oral contraceptives, medroxyprogesterone, or placebo over 12 months

Hergenroeder AC, Smith EO, Shypailo R, Jones LA, Klish WJ, Ellis K

Published May 1997 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 176(5), 1017-1025
DOI 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70396-x PMID 9166162

Abstract

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to assess (1) whether treatment with oral contraceptives, in comparison with medroxyprogesterone and placebo, improved bone mineral in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea and (2) whether treatment with medroxyprogesterone, in comparison with placebo, improved bone mineral in women with hypothalamic oligomenorrhea.

Study Design

The study was a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Twenty-four white women, aged 14 to 28 years, with hypothalamic amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea were prospectively enrolled for a 12-month intervention period. Amenorrheic subjects were randomized to receive oral contraceptives, medroxyprogesterone, or placebo. Oligomenorrheic subjects were randomized to receive medroxyprogesterone or placebo. Bone mineral was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.

Results

In amenorrheic subjects spine and total body bone mineral measurements at 12 months were greater in the oral contraceptive group than in the medroxyprogesterone and placebo groups when baseline bone mineral measurements, body weight, and age were controlled for (p < or = 0.05). There were no differences in hip bone mineral calcium and bone mineral density measurements at 12 months among the three groups. In oligomenorrheic subjects there was no detectable improvement in bone mineral associated with medroxyprogesterone use.

Conclusions

This study supports the hypothesis that oral contraceptive use in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea will improve lumbar spine and total body bone mineral.

Topics

By this author

Related research

Bone Health › Hormones and Bone › Contraceptive Effects on Bone · Therapeutics › Hormonal Agents › Estrogen Preparations · Reproductive Endocrinology › Ovarian Hormones › Estrogen
PMID 9166162 9166162 DOI 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70396-x 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70396-x Hergenroeder et al. 1997, Hergenroeder 1997

Cite this article

Hergenroeder, A. C., Smith, E. O., Shypailo, R., Jones, L. A., Klish, W. J., & Ellis, K. (1997). Bone mineral changes in young women with hypothalamic amenorrhea treated with oral contraceptives, medroxyprogesterone, or placebo over 12 months. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 176(5), 1017-1025. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70396-x