Nurse Says She Has Osteoporosis because of Depo-Provera

New Orleans, LALike most women who chose Depo-Provera as a method of birth control, Thuan thought it would be "simple and easy." Instead, a shot of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, better known as DMPA or depo shot, has caused confusion and complications, namely loss of bone density and early signs of osteoporosis.

At the age of 40 and the mother of two children, Thuan talked with her doctor about birth control and he suggested Depo-Provera. Besides being a mother, she works in a hospital as a registered nurse and teaches nursing school. "I am busy and thought I might forget to take the pill, so a shot every three months seemed like a good idea," says Thuan. "I don't remember exactly for how long I took Depo shots, but it was for at least 10 years.

"By about the seventh year and because of my age, I asked my doctor about bone density and he ordered some tests. The results indicated that I have the beginnings of osteoporosis and he put me on Actonel, 35 mg weekly, to increase bone density, along with calcium." (Actonel is used for preventing osteoporosis in women who are past menopause and to treat and prevent osteoporosis caused by treatment with corticosteroids—e.g., prednisone—for both men and women.)

During that time Thuan, who is now 56, says she was still getting the Depo shot. She didn't know that she was menopausal—many women no longer menstruate after taking Depo-Provera. "I had no idea that DMPA was related to bone loss until about two years ago," Thuan explains. "After 50 I was in menopause so why did I still take Depo-Provera? My doctor took a blood test to determine whether I was menopausal and determined that I didn't need to take it anymore.

"Now I have a bone density test every year and it hasn't improved. My back hurts and my legs ache. Because I am on my feet all day, loss of bone density has really affected my work and I have to wear something to support my back. I am afraid that I am going to really hurt myself when I lift a patient—and being a nurse, that's part of my job.

"I was shocked when I found the Depo-Provera lawsuit online. And I found out that a lot of women are in the same situation as me. Even though I am a nurse, I never talked to my doctor about putting me on Depo-Provera for so long. I trusted my doctor so why should I question him? I am very frustrated; why was I given this medication with so many side effects? I found out that you shouldn't be on this for more than two years, but I was on it for a decade."

The Depo Provera Web site says that "You should use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection long term (for example, more than 2 years) only if other methods of birth control are not right for you…The longer you use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection, the more calcium you are likely to lose. The calcium may not return completely once you stop using Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection."

"I don't think my doctor knows about these side effects," adds Thuan. "If not for me going through menopause, I would probably still be taking it and my bones would be even worse."

Depo-Provera and its link to loss of bone mass has been in the news for several years. In January 2010, The New York Times reported on a study (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jan 2010) that followed women who used a shot of Depo-Provera every three months. Researchers found that 45 percent of the users experienced bone mineral density losses of 5 percent or more in the hip or lower spine.

And a Depo-Provera class action suit against Pfizer Canada was filed in 2005—the first time a Quebec judge certified a contested national class-action claim. (Similar class-action claims in other provinces were suspended.) The claimants are seeking $50 million in punitive damages and compensation depending on the specific injuries suffered by the class members, and the suit is also seeking $250,000 in damages for lead claimant Noelia Brito, a Quebec woman in her forties.

"Even though I've stopped taking the Depo shot, my disease is not over," says Thuan. "I don't know whether I have a case against the maker of Depo-Provera but in the meantime I will continue to take my meds for bone loss and hope it doesn't get worse."