Health News

In a study of women who received the "birth control shot" -- also known as Depo-Provera -- nearly half lost at least 5 percent of their bone mineral density in the hip and lower spine within two years.

Women who were smokers, who had never given birth and who didn't consume much calcium were at highest risk.

The two-year study included nearly 100 patients who had the injection.  Of those, 45 women lost at least 5 percent of bone mineral density in their lower backs and hips. Further research for another year in some of the study participants found that those at high risk lost even more bone mass.