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Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 611 "What the Pill & Depo Do to Your Bones" | Menopause, Perimenopause, Bone Health

June 25 · 42 min
0:00-42:37

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Welcome to the latest Midlife Minute.

Today, we’re discussing how oral contraceptives and Depo Provera can impact women’s bone health over time.Stay tuned as I walk you through the research, prescribing trends, and ways women can support their bone health.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

  • How peak bone mass in adolescence affects bone health later in life

  • How oral contraceptives can interfere with the bone development of young women

  • The lack of informed conversations about the bone health risks associated with long-term contraceptive use

  • Why Depo Provera may have a stronger impact on bone density than oral contraceptives

  • The importance of nutrition and strength training for supporting bone health

  • How hormonal contraceptives can affect the gut microbiome and immune system

  • What you need to consider regarding your bone density and long-term health if you’ve been using oral contraceptives or Depo for many years

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow  

Resources:

  • Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral contraceptives and bone mineral density in a cohort of adolescent girls doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2004.07.005

  • Oral Contraceptive Use and Bone Density Change in Adolescent and Young Adult Women: A Prospective Study of Age, Hormone Dose, and Discontinuation doi:10.1210/jc.2010-3027


  • Adolescent use of combined hormonal contraception and peak bone mineral density accrual: A meta-analysis of international prospective controlled studies doi:10.1111/cen.13932

  • No need to specialize: reproductive health is for all adolescents doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2006.01.055

  • Injectable Hormone Contraception and Bone Density: Results from a Prospective Study doi:10.1097/00001648-200209000-00015

  • Hormonal contraception and the development of autoimmunity: A review of the literature doi:10.1080/00243639.2017.1360065

  • Oral contraceptives, reproductive factors and risk of inflammatory bowel disease doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302362

  • Combined oral contraceptive use and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus doi:10.1002/art.24398

  • Oral Contraceptives and Multiple Sclerosis/Clinically Isolated Syndrome Susceptibility doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149094

  • The Experience of Surviving a High-Risk Pregnancy doi:10.1080/23293691.2016.1166104

  • Effects of 0.9 mg Recombinant Human Thyrotropin on Thyroid Size and Function in Normal Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial doi:10.1210/jc.2004-0914