Effect of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) on Bone Mineral Density in Women of Reproductive Age

ObjectiveTo compare bone mineral density (BMD) between users of intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate(DMPA) and nonhormonal control subjects.MethodsThe study included 68 women aged between 25 and 40 years using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for 24 months and 59 women aged between 25 and 40 years using nonhormonal contraception as control subjects. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were obtained using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsAt 24 months of treatment, as compared with baseline, the mean BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck was decreased by 5.5% and 5.9%, respectively. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD in women who used DMPA were significantly decreased compared with the subjects in nonuser (P<0.001).ConclusionThese results show BMD declined during using DMPA in women aged 25-40 years old.