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The effects of hormonal contraceptives on bone turnover markers and bone health
Author(s) -
Herrmann Markus,
Seibel Markus J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03688.x
Subject(s) - bone remodeling , hormone , medicine , osteoporosis , endocrinology , bone mineral , bone health , physiology
Summary Sex hormones are important regulators of bone metabolism. As hormonal contraceptives contain either oestrogens or progestins, or a combination thereof, it is conceivable that these widely used agents have an effect on bone metabolism and bone health. The main users of hormonal contraceptives, adolescent girls and young women, are still building bone and accruing bone mass and may therefore be particularly susceptible to the effects of hormonal contraceptives on bone. Despite these concerns, the effects of hormonal contraceptives on bone health are still poorly understood. As biochemical markers of bone turnover have been proven useful tools in the assessment and monitoring of bone metabolism, we reviewed the effects of combined and gestagen‐only hormonal contraceptives on bone turnover markers and related effects on bone mineral density and fracture risk in premenopausal women, as documented in the literature until January 2009.