The effects of estrogen replacement therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) and the incidence of low back pain in post-oophorectomized women were evaluated. BMD of the lumbar spine was measured using dual energy absorptiometry (Lunar DPX) in 23 patients who had developed artificial menopause due to oophorectomy. The average age of patients was 44.8 year-old. 17 patients had been treated with estrogen replacement therapy. Lumbar BMD of 23 healthy women (average age: 46.6 years) was measured and

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... ved as a control group. There were no significant differences in lumbar BMD between the estrogen treated group and control group. Lumbar BMD in the estrogen non-treated group was significantly lower than in the estrogen treated group and control group (p<0.05). Incidence of low back pain was significantly lower in the estrogen treated group than in the estrogen non-treated group (p<0.05). We concluded that estrogen replacement therapy significantly decreases bone loss and prevents an increase in the incidence of low back pain.