Effect of Combined Oral Contraceptive Use on Bone Mineral Density in Adolescent Females

ObjectiveTo compare adolescents' bone mineral density (BMD) between users of combined oral contraceptive (Marvelon, desogestrel/ethinylestradiol) and nonhormonal control subjects.MethodsThe study included 127 women who aged between 16 and 18 years using Marvelon for 24 months and 115 women who aged between 16 and 18 years using nonhormonal contraception as control subjects. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were obtained using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsAfter 24 months of Marvelon use, as compared with baseline, the mean BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck were decreased by 0.30% and 0.61%, respectively. While in the nonusers group, the mean BMD were increased by 1.88% and 1.10%, respectively. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD in women who used Marvelon were not significantly different compared with the subjects who used nonhormonal contraception (P>0.05).ConclusionTwo years of Marvelon use had no significant effect on BMD, but it remains unknown whether longer than 2 years of use has a significant adverse effect on the attainment of peak bone mass.