Finding the Best Hormonal Regimen for Oligo-Amenorrheic Athletes

Transdermal estradiol plus oral progesterone was better than oral estrogen-progestin for building bone mass.

Oligo-amenorrheic athletes have excess risk for developing low bone density. To assess the efficacy of various hormonal treatments on bone health, investigators randomized 121 oligo-amenorrheic athletes (age range, 14–25) to continuous 100-µg transdermal estradiol plus cyclic 200-mg oral micronized progesterone (PATCH), cyclic 30-µg oral ethinyl estradiol plus 0.15-mg desogestrel (PILL), or no hormone treatment (control) for 12 months. All participants received 800 IU vitamin D and 1200 mg calcium daily. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Both the PATCH and PILL regimens, but not the control regimen, caused a return of regular withdrawal bleeding. At 12 months, the PATCH group experienced greater in…

Reviewing Author

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Robert L. Barbieri, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Finding the Best Hormonal Regimen for Oligo-Amenorrheic Athletes

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Reviewing Author