Bone density patterns after normal and premature menopause.

Objectives: The investigation of the effect of time and type of menopause on bone mineral density (BMD) at different ages.

Methods: Five hundred and fourteen women, who had never received any hormonal substitution were studied in a cross-sectional design: 177 with normal (NMP), 210 with surgical (SUMP) and 127 with premature natural (EMP) menopause. Age at menopause was 49.