Little is known on fracture risk in young women using oral contraceptives.
Study Design
Case-control study (64,548 cases, 193,641 controls).
Results
Overall, no major association with risk of fracture was present. Only in a few age groups a limited increase (OR 1.1-1.5) was seen in those using low average doses (less than one tablet per day - i.e., intermittent use). Neither 20 nor >or=30 mcg per day of ethinylestradiol was associated with risk of fractures, while changing from 20 to >or=30 mcg per day or vice versa was associated with a limited increase in fracture risk (OR 1.1-1.4) in some age groups.
Conclusions
In general, use of oral contraceptives in young women did not seem to be associated with an increased risk of fractures. The isolated increase seen in some strata with low average doses may be linked to factors associated with discontinuation of oral contraceptives rather than pharmacological effects.
oral contraceptives fracture risk young women, combined oral contraceptives bone fracture case control study, ethinylestradiol dose fracture risk adolescents, OCP bone health premenopausal women, intermittent oral contraceptive use fracture, low dose ethinylestradiol 20 mcg bone effects, contraceptive discontinuation fracture risk, Vestergaard oral contraceptives fracture, hormonal contraception skeletal effects young women, oral contraceptive pill bone mineral density fracture premenopausal
PMID 18929731 18929731 DOI 10.1016/j.contraception.2008.06.010 10.1016/j.contraception.2008.06.010
Cite this article
Vestergaard, P., Rejnmark, L., & Mosekilde, L. (2008). Fracture risk in very young women using combined oral contraceptives. Contraception, 78(5), 358-364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2008.06.010
Vestergaard P, Rejnmark L, Mosekilde L. Fracture risk in very young women using combined oral contraceptives. Contraception. 2008;78(5):358-364. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2008.06.010
Vestergaard, Peter, et al. "Fracture risk in very young women using combined oral contraceptives." Contraception, vol. 78, no. 5, 2008, pp. 358-364.
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