American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 3 , Pages 329.e1-329.e8, March 2009

Changes in weight, total fat, percent body fat, and central-to-peripheral fat ratio associated with injectable and oral contraceptive use

Presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, New Orleans, LA, Oct. 22-25, 2008.

  • Abbey B. Berenson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
    • Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Abbey B. Berenson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555-0587
    • ,
  • Mahbubur Rahman, MBBS, PhD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Received 30 June 2008; received in revised form 15 November 2008; accepted 29 December 2008.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine changes in bodyweight and composition that result from hormonal contraception.

Study Design

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was performed at baseline and every 6 months for 3 years for 703 women (African American, 200; white, 247; Hispanic, 256) who were beginning the use of oral contraception (OC; n = 245), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; n = 240), or nonhormonal contraception (NH; n = 218). DMPA discontinuers were observed for up to 2 years to examine the reversibility of the observed changes.

Results

Over 36 months, DMPA users increased their weight (+5.1 kg), body fat (+4.1 kg), percent body fat (+3.4%), and central-to-peripheral fat ratio (+0.1) more than OC and NH users (P < .01). OC use did not cause weight gain. After DMPA discontinuation, NH users lost 0.42 kg in 6 months; OC users gained 0.43 kg in 6 months.

Conclusion

Bodyweight and fat significantly increase with the use of DMPA. After discontinuation of DMPA, some decrease in bodyweight and fat occurs when NH is used.

Key words: body fat, body weight, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral contraception

 

 Cite this article as: Berenson AB, Rahman M. Changes in weight, total fat, percent body fat, and central-to-peripheral fat ratio associated with injectable and oral contraceptive use. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:329.e1-329.e8.

 Supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grants R01HD39883 and K24HD043659 (A.B.B.) and General Clinical Research Centers (GCRC) program, National Center for Research Resources, NIH, M01RR000073.

PII: S0002-9378(08)02460-5

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.12.052

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 3 , Pages 329.e1-329.e8, March 2009