Calcitonin and lumbar bone mineral content during oestrogen-progestogen administration in post-menopausal women.

It now appears to be accepted that oestrogens and progestogens can help to prevent post-menopausal bone loss. This study accordingly evaluated vertebral bone mineral content (BMC) patterns and changes in calcitonin (CT) secretion in 12 women who had been ovariectomized in the previous 6 mth and in 12 others who had had a natural menopause, all of whom received oestrogen-progestogen replacement therapy for 12 mth. We also studied 12 oophorectomized and 21 normal-menopause women who did not receive any treatment and hence constituted the corresponding control groups. A significant difference was found between the lumbar BMC in the treated women and the controls. Moreover, the CT levels rose significantly after replacement therapy in both the oophorectomized and the natural-menopause subjects. It was concluded that combined oestrogen-progestogen treatment can prevent post-menopausal bone loss and increase CT secretion.