Oral Contraceptives Decrease Bone Density

NEW YORK, August 27, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A study of female military cadets has shown that the use of oral contraceptives is linked with loss of bone density in women. The study examined the effects of lifestyle, diet, and exercise on bone health in 107 white female cadets at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and found that irregular menstruation and oral contraceptives had a negative impact on bone density.

The study bolsters earlier work showing that hormonal contraceptives negatively affect bone density. Estrogen plays an important role in the development and maintenance of bone mass and hormonal contraceptives decrease the amount of estrogen a woman's body produces. In November 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United Kingdom Committee on the Safety of Medicines cited bone mineral density loss when they issued warnings on the use of the progestin-only injectable contraceptives.

In 2005, a group of women launched a $700-million class-action lawsuit against the drug company Pfizer that produces Depo-Provera, saying the hormonal abortifacient drug had caused massive bone density loss. Three lawsuits in Canada are pending against the company alleging bone density loss.

See the abstract of the study from the from the journal of Nutrition and Metabolism:
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/4/1/17

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Class Action Suit Says Depo-Provera Birth Control Drug Causes Osteoporosis
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/dec/05122101.html

Heredity does play a role in osteoporosis as does having a small frame; ethnicity, etc. As to the female Cadets taking oral contraceptives...I think the reason may be the Cadets would be physically fit (ie., athletic). The rigors of sports training can cause menstrual disruption or cessation...so the Pill would be prescribed to regulate their cycles.

It is a health care shame that osteoporosis is only thought of post-menopause (I can't stand the touchy, feely, lady with the cartoons around her or Sally Field telling us she one life and one body...duh...but I digress). Woman should be alerted early on (but not currently marketed to) that a cheap calcium suppliment could do much to prevent future damage. Only TUMS mentions it...and then barely. I guess there is much more $$$ to be made with Boniva...

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