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Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Forearm bone mineral density in postmenopausal former users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
Luciana Sanches1, Nadia M Marchi, Sara Castro
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Human Reproduction Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13084-971 Campinas, Brazil.
Background:
The aim of the study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) of postmenopausal women who had used depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or a copper intrauterine device (IUD) as a comparison group until menopause.
Study Design:
BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the nondominant forearm for up to 3 years following menopause in 135 women aged 43-58 years: 36 former DMPA users and 99 former IUD users.
Results:
Mean duration of use was (mean+/-SEM) 9.4+/-3.8 and 14.7+/-6.2 years for the DMPA and IUD groups, respectively. One year after menopause, mean distal radius BMD was 0.435 and 0.449 in DMPA and IUD users, respectively, and 0.426 and 0.447 at 2-3 years following menopause. Ultra-distal BMD was 0.369 and 0.384 in DMPA and IUD users, respectively, at 1 year, and 0.340 and 0.383 at 2-3 years.
Conclusions:
At 1 and 2-3 years following menopause, no significant differences were observed in the BMD of postmenopausal women aged 43-58 years, who had used DMPA or an IUD until menopause.
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