THE EFFECTS OF THE COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES ON THE BONE MINERAL DENSITY OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN

Objective: To determine the effects of combined oral contraceptives (COC's) on bone mineral density of women after 12 month treatment. Design: Comparison of the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and serum Ca+2, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, Vitamin D3 and urinary OH-proline levels. Setting: Kirikkale University Medical Faculty Hospital. Patients: Fifty patients of ages < 40 years who took combined oral contraceptive for 12 months. Intervention: Bone Mineral Density Measurements and comparison of these values at the beginning and after 12 month of COC treatment. Results: The serum level of Ca+2 significantly increased [p<0.05] at the time of observation in comparison to the basal level. The urinary excretion of OH-proline over 12 months significantly decreased [p<0.05] at the end of study. At 12th month, no significant difference was detected in lumbar, femur, and distal ulna-radius BMD values in comparison with basal values. The BMD of proximal ulna-radius significantly increased [p<0.05] at the end of twelve months in comparison to basal content. Conclusions: The contraceptive pill containing 20 mu g Ethinyl estradiol + 100 mu g Levonorgestrel has beneficial effects on the bone turnover and bone mineral density at proximal ulna-radius.