Short-Term Effects of The Transdermal Contraceptive Patch on Bone Turnover in Premenopausal Women: A Pilot Study | ||||
Evidence Based Women's Health Journal | ||||
Article 5, Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2017, Page 30-35 PDF (452.64 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original Article | ||||
DOI: X10.21608/ebwhj.2017.3222 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Jason Vescovi* 1; Bruce Bainb2; Ira Jacobs1 | ||||
1School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, University of Toronto | ||||
2Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Defence Research and Development Canada – Toronto | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Objective: To examine the short-term effects of the transdermal contraceptive patch on markers of bone turnover in young women. Study Design: Prospective open-label study. Patients and Methods: Nine healthy premenopausal women volunteered and were prescribed one cycle of the transdermal contraceptive patch containing 6.0 mg norelgestromin/0.6 mg ethinyl estradiol. Fasting blood samples were taken at Baseline and then for an additional four consecutive weeks to assess changes in bone formation (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase; BSAP) and bone resorption (serum collagen type I cross-linked C-telopeptide; SCTX-I). Results: Compared to Baseline (0.61±0.16 ng•mL-1) SCTX-I was reduced by 40% (0.36±0.10ng•mL-1; P=0.002) after only one week and tended to remain suppressed by 26-30% (P≤0.11) during the second and third week, returning to 90% of Baseline (0.54±0.15ng•mL-1) after the withdrawal week. Compared to Baseline (25.8±6.8U•L-1) BSAP levels were 12% (22.8±6.6U•L-1, P=0.486) and 18% (21.2±5.9U•L-1, P=0.249) lower after two and three weeks, respectively, returning to 94% (24.4±6.2U•L-1) of Baseline values following the withdrawal week. Conclusions: The transdermal contraceptive patch rapidly reduced bone resorption, but has a delayed and less suppressive effect on bone formation. Despite the observed reductions, the concentration of bone turnover markers remained within reference ranges for premenopausal women. Practitioners prescribing hormonal contraceptives to young women should be aware of the rapid response of bone metabolism to this class of drugs. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Hormonal Contraceptives; Ethinyl Estradiol; Transdermal Contraceptive Patch | ||||
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