Studies on Increasing Prevalence of Osteoporosis, Hypothyroidism and Endogenous Oestrogen

Background: Women were expressing disabling low back aches and weight gain attributing to puerperal sterilization, when contraception implementation as Family Welfare Program was progressing between ~1983 and ~1989. Hence we sought to identify any correlation existing with contraception.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prevalence of osteoporosis and hypothyroid status, in 350 patients of 20 - 35 years, 35 - 50 years, >50 years age groups, from data collected by convenient, stratified random sampling of different geographical locations, between 1995-2012. We also analyzed its association with presence or absence of contraception and abortion. Simultaneously, serum estrogen levels obtained from 105 patients were also analyzed.

Results: ~15 - 25 fold increase in osteoporosis was seen in contraceptive users with a p value of <0.0005 among >20 - >50 years age group; we also found a 6 fold increase in hypothyroidism among contraceptive users aged >35 years [p < 0.0005], 3 fold increase in hypothyroidism among >20 years age group [p < 0.02] and 1.5 fold increase in >50 years age group [p < 0.025]. Endogenous estrogen was reduced in 61% of people using contraception with a p value of <0.0005.

Conclusion: Concept is that contraception prevents traversal of normal path by germ cells, resulting in smashed fragmentation of germ cells, and consequent decreased endogenous estrogen or androgen leading to defaulted genomic repertoire, deranged cell cycle and cell metabolism resulting in metabolic syndrome, with consequent increase in osteoporosis and hypothyroid status.