Osteoporosis in Women
Osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases among women, and a leading cause of hip fracture and other broken bones later in life. It develops slowly and often without warning, which is why it’s sometimes called a silent disease. At Houston Methodist, our specialists use advanced bone density testing to catch bone loss early and build a treatment plan that protects your bone health for the long haul.
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become fragile, porous and more likely to break. It develops when the body loses bone mass faster than it can rebuild it, leaving bones to weaken over time. Osteoporosis is most common in postmenopausal women, since the drop in estrogen during that time speeds up bone loss. Men can develop osteoporosis too, but women usually make up the large majority of cases. Most people don’t notice symptoms until a bone actually breaks, which is why regular bone density screening is critical for older adults.
Why Choose Houston Methodist for Osteoporosis Care
Osteoporosis is manageable, but the right care team makes a real difference in protecting your bones for the long run. Look for a doctor who listens to your full history of risk factors, explains your bone density test results in plain language and works with you to build a care plan you can stick with. At Houston Methodist, our multidisciplinary team brings exactly that kind of coordinated, whole-person approach to every patient.
Common Causes of Osteoporosis in Women
Doctors haven’t found one single cause of osteoporosis, but several factors are known to raise a woman’s risk:
- Hormonal changes during menopause, including declining estrogen levels
- Age, since bone density naturally declines over time
- A family history of osteoporosis or a medical history of low bone mass
- Not reaching a strong peak bone mass in your 20s or 30s
- Low calcium and vitamin D intake
- Smoking and heavy alcohol use
- A sedentary lifestyle with limited physical activity
- Certain medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, celiac disease and other gastrointestinal diseases
- Eating disorders such as anorexia
- Cancer treatments that lower estrogen, including some breast cancer therapies
- Extended breastfeeding, which can cause a temporary dip in bone density
- A small, thin body frame
Types of Osteoporosis
- Primary osteoporosis: The most common type, largely tied to menopause and age-related bone loss
- Secondary osteoporosis: Caused by another bone disease, a medical condition or long-term use of certain medications
- Osteopenia: An earlier stage of low bone mass that comes before osteoporosis. It means your bone mineral density is lower than normal, but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis.
Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis in Women
Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease, and for good reason. Most women have no noticeable symptoms when the condition is in its early stages. As bone density continues to drop, though, some warning signs can appear.
- Fractures from minor falls or bumps: A broken bone from a seemingly insignificant fall, or even a simple bump, is often the first sign of osteoporosis. Hip fractures and wrist breaks are two of the most common.
- Back pain: Compressed or fractured vertebrae in the spine can cause sudden or ongoing back pain.
- Loss of height or stooped posture: Weakened vertebrae can gradually collapse, leading to a noticeable loss of height or a stooped or hunched posture over time.
How Osteoporosis Is Diagnosed
If you’re at risk for osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:
- Bone densitometry (DEXA) scan: Also known as a bone density test, the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan is an imaging test used to measure bone mineral density, usually at the hip and lumbar spine.
- T-score and Z-score results: Your bone density test results are reported as a T-score, which compares your bone density to that of a healthy young adult, or a Z-score, which compares it to others your own age.
- Physical exam: This will include discussion of any family history of osteoporosis, current medications and any previous broken bones.
- Blood tests: These are used to check for calcium and vitamin D deficiency and rule out other causes of bone loss.
Treatment Options for Osteoporosis
There is no cure for osteoporosis, but it can be effectively managed or prevented altogether. Treatment usually starts with lifestyle changes, but may also include medication for women at higher risk of fracture.
Lifestyle Changes and Prevention
These steps can help slow bone loss and lower your risk of a fracture, whether your goal is to manage ongoing osteoporosis or prevent it from developing:
- Weight-bearing exercise, like walking, dancing or strength training
- Balance-focused activities such as tai chi to help prevent falls
- Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D, either through diet or supplements
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol
- Staying consistently active with regular physical activity
Osteoporosis Medications
For women with low bone density or a higher fracture risk, your doctor may prescribe medication, including:
- Bisphosphonates, which slow the rate of bone breakdown
- Denosumab, an injectable medication for women who can’t take bisphosphonates
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which mimic estrogen’s bone-protecting effects
- Hormone therapy or estrogen therapy, for some women near the start of menopause
- Calcitonin, a synthetic hormone that keeps calcium inside the bones
- Parathyroid hormone therapy, for women with severe osteoporosis