Program for Women's Bone Health

Osteoporosis-related fractures occur in half of women older than 50. In fact, more women sustain fractures each year than those diagnosed with breast cancer, stroke and heart attack combined. This is because osteoporosis and osteopenia (also referred to as low bone mass) can present without any symptoms.

​Once a woman has sustained a fracture, there’s a one in five chance she will fracture another bone within the next five years. For 25% of women over age 50 who sustain an osteoporotic hip fracture, this injury can be fatal. Other fractures such as spine fractures cause pain, height loss or difficulty breathing. Many of these fractures can be prevented by timely screening, evaluation and treatment.

Women should start optimizing bone health before menopause. The Northwestern Medicine Program for Women’s Bone Health can offer an evaluation of risk factors and recommendations to help you minimize bone loss and lower your risk of fracture.

At the Northwestern Medicine Program for Women's Bone Health, our expert clinicians:

• Identify patients at high risk for developing osteoporosis
• Provide on-site, leading-edge screening (bone densitometry) and trabecular bone score (measure bone quality) with prompt discussion of results
• Provide advanced osteoporosis care, including support for patients with complex conditions, such as women with glucocorticoid-induced, post-transplant and premenopausal osteoporosis
• Address prevention of both new and recurrent fractures in collaboration with orthopaedic surgery, other medical specialties and physical therapy
• Individualize the treatment of osteoporosis 

Risk Factors 

Risk factors for bone loss and fractures include:

• Early menopause (before age 45) or premature ovarian insufficiency (period stops before age 40) from natural or surgical causes
• Personal history of fracture from a fall of standing height or less
• BMI less than 20
• Lifestyle, such as alcohol overuse, smoking and lack of physical activity
• 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 

Many women with risk factors should be screened in the early postmenopausal years. 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.
 
Our comprehensive approach to treatment of bone loss may include:

• Exercise (including balance improvement and fall prevention)
• Dietary changes
• Appropriate supplements
• Lifestyle changes
• Hormone therapy
• Oral medications
• Injectable medications
• Infusion 

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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.

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Dr. Lauren Streicher and Dr. Kristi Tough-DeSapri talk about bone health.

WATCH VIDEO

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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 an Appointment

To request an appointment, fill out the form on the Contact Us page or call 312.694.9676 for more information. ​

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