Prevention of osteoporosis by medroxyprogesterone acetate in postmenopausal women.

The effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate 10 mg BID alone, conjugated estrogens alone or in a combination regimen for the prevention of osteoporosis was determined in 36 postmenopausal women using single photon densitometry. No significant differences in cortical or trabecular bone mass over time were detected in women between the three treatment groups, although a slight increase in bone mass was noted in women with the combined therapy. Medroxyprogesterone acetate appears efficacious in preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis, and may be especially useful in women with contraindications to estrogen replacement therapy.