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Boarding Schools for Girls Blog

Read the latest news and information about girls boarding schools, single sex classrooms, and girls learning styles.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Study Says Low-Dose Oral Contraceptives can Impair Healthy Bone Development in Teen Girls

A Czech study involving 82 teen girls has revealed an association between low-dose oral contraceptives and abnormally low levels of bone growth and density. The study was led by Dr. Jan Stepan of Charles University in Prague.

A Sept. 14 article by MedPage Today Senior Editor John Gever provided the following details about the study and its possible ramifications:
  • In a randomized, crossover trial, bone mineral density (BMD) failed to increase in girls 15 to 19 years old who took pills with a low dose (15 micrograms) of ethinyl estradiol for nine months.
  • Bone density increased normally in participants taking pills with a high dose (30 micrograms) of ethinyl estradiol.
  • In a presentation at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Dr. Stepan said that based on these findings, girls who need oral contraceptives "could be counseled toward preparations with higher estrogen levels."

Labels: health, teenagers, birth-control, research

Posted By: Aspen/CRC