Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health
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Osteoporosis occurs when the density of a bone is so low that fracture is likely. With advancing age (particularly around menopause), women lose more bone than they make. Certain medical conditions and even some commonly used medications can also contribute to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is almost always a silent disease until a bone break (fracture) occurs, which is why screening and prevention are critical. In the United States alone, there are 8 million women with osteoporosis and 34 million women with low bone mass (osteopenia) who are at risk of fracture and don’t know it. Fractures from osteoporosis are responsible for 2 million fractures every year, and 25 percent of women over age 50 who have an osteoporotic hip fracture ultimately die as a result of their injury. Other fractures such as vertebral (spine) fractures cause pain, height loss or breathing difficulty. Strategies to optimize bone health should start prior to menopause. Our clinic can offer an evaluation of risk factors and recommendations to help you minimize bone loss and lower your risk of fracture. |
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Risk factors
Risk factors for bone loss and fractures include:
The timing of a first screening dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or DXA (a low-radiation scan of hips and spine) is dependent on individual risk factors but should occur in all women no later than age 65. Many women with risk factors should be screened in the early postmenopausal years.
- 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 (BMI less than 20)
- Lifestyle choices, such as alcohol overuse, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle
- Medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes, vitamin D deficiency, celiac disease and many more
- Surgical conditions such as gastric bypass or gastrointestinal surgery
- Medications such as steroids, aromatase inhibitors (such as anastrozole and letrozole), 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
The timing of a first screening dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or DXA (a low-radiation scan of hips and spine) is dependent on individual risk factors but should occur in all women no later than age 65. Many women with risk factors should be screened in the early postmenopausal years.
About the Northwestern medicine Program for Women's Bone Health
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At the Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health, we:
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Program Director
Kristi Tough DeSapri, MD, director of the Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health, is a board-certified internal medicine specialist who completed a fellowship in women's health at the Cleveland Clinic. She collaborates with primary care physicians and specialists to optimize care. Dr. Tough DeSapri is a member of and active contributor to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Association of Bone Mineral Research and North American Menopause Society. She is also a certified clinical densitometrist with the International Society of Clinical Densitometry. |
Northwestern Medicine® Women's Health