Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health

Osteoporosis is when bone tissue is not made fast enough to replace the bone tissue you lose, making your bones weaker and more likely to break. As you age, you may lose more bone than you make, especially around menopause. Certain medical conditions and even some common medications can also contribute to osteoporosis. 

​In the United States, there are 10 million women with osteoporosis and 43 million women with low bone mass (osteopenia) who are at risk of fracture and don’t know it. ​

Osteoporosis is hard to detect until a bone breaks, which is why screening and prevention are important. Our clinic offers screening for bone loss. We can evaluate any risk factors and recommend ways to help you reduce bone loss and lower your risk of fracture.

Risk Factors 

Some factors may put you at higher risk for bone loss and fractures. These include:

• Early menopause (before age 45) or premature ovarian insufficiency (loss of menses before age 40) from natural or surgical causes
• Personal history of fracture from a fall of standing height or less
• Low body weight (body mass index [BMI] less than 20)
• Lifestyle choices, such as alcohol overuse, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle
• Medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, vitamin D deficiency and celiac disease
• Surgical conditions, such as gastric bypass or gastrointestinal surgery
• Medications, such as steroids, aromatase inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and many more
• Family history of fracture or low bone density
• Height loss (more than 1.5 inches since adult peak or more than 0.8 inch since last height check)
• Falls or balance difficulty  

You should get your first screening before age 65. However, the timing may depend on your individual risk factors. If you have multiple risk factors, you should be screened in your early postmenopausal years. 

About the Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health
 
We are dedicated to compassionate and comprehensive care for all of our patients. At the Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health, we:

• Identify patients at high risk for developing osteoporosis
• Provide on-site screening (bone densitometry)
• Talk about prevention strategies such as:
  • Exercise (including balance improvement and fall prevention)
  • Dietary changes
  • Appropriate supplements
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Hormone therapy
• Work with osteoporosis specialists to help patients who would benefit from: 
  • Oral medications
  • Injectable medications
  • Infusions 

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WATCH VIDEO: ALL ABOUT BONE HEALTH
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Dr. Lauren Streicher and Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri talk about bone health.

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INFORMATION FOR NEW PATIENTS

Learn how to prepare for your appointment, what to expect during your first visit, and answers to frequently asked questions. 

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Request a Bone Density Screening

To request a bone density screening, fill out the form on the Contact Us page or call 312.694.9676 for more information. ​

REQUEST SCREENING