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The results of a study published in the
January 2000 issue of The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that
post-menopausal women who take oral contraception may significantly
increase
bone mineral
density and
decrease blood cholesterol levels. According to researchers at the
Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, treating
post-menopausal women with oral contraceptives is more effective
than conventional
hormone replacement
therapy
(HRT).
The study involved 80 healthy, post-menopausal women who were randomly selected to
receive either a standard course of oral contraceptives or conventional HRT for one year.
Though both HRT and the oral contraceptives greatly improved bone mineral density in the
spine and hip, researchers saw a greater overall slowdown of bone loss in the women who were treated with
oral contraceptive therapy. Oral contraceptives were also associated
with greater reductions in total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels
and diastolic blood pressure (the second number on blood pressure
readings).
Sufficient bone mineral density is crucial in reducing the
risk of osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease.
In women, bone loss accelerates after menopause when the ovaries
stop producing estrogen, a hormone that helps maintain bone density.
If this destruction/reconstruction process is unbalanced and bone
loss is severe, women may experience
symptoms
of osteoporosis (such as back pain, height loss, curving spine, and
broken or fractured bones). It is estimated that one in three women
over age 50 have osteoporosis.
Though the Bangkok study needs additional confirmation, the
researchers believe that oral contraceptive therapy will soon become
an alternative for healthy post-menopausal women considering hormone
replacement therapy (HRT). Oral contraceptives are especially
beneficial for older women who have rapid bone demineralization,
said Nimit Taechakraichana, MD, who led the study. Like HRT, oral
contraception increases the levels of estrogen and progesterone in
the body, which in turn, increase bone density and alleviate
menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes or vaginal dryness).
However, oral contraception is taken for 21 days cycles followed by
seven tablet-free days. Pre-menopausal women menstruate during the
tablet-free intervals.
Since both HRT and oral contraception increase hormone
levels, their side effects are similar. Common side effects of both
therapies include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weight gain
- Breast swelling or tenderness
- Vaginal spot bleeding
All women should be aware of the risk factors for
osteoporosis and take preventive
measures to
help protect against the disease. Risk factors for osteoporosis
include:
- Female gender
- Advancing age (especially onset of menopause)
- Family history
- Asian or Caucasian heritage
- Small build
- History of eating disorders, diabetes, chronic diarrhea, or
kidney or liver diseases
Presently, there are several other therapies available to
treat women with osteoporosis These drugs include
raloxifene (brand name, Evista),
alendronate (brand name, Fosamax), and
Calcitonin (brand name, Miacalcin).
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