Osteoporosis in Menopause

There is a direct relationship between the lack of estrogen during perimenopause and menopause and the development of osteoporosis. Early menopause and any prolonged periods in which hormone levels are low and menstrual periods are absent or infrequent can cause loss of bone mass or what we call Osteoporosis.

Two major factors that affect your chance of getting osteoporosis are:

The amount of bone you have when you reach menopause. The greater your bone density is to begin with, the lower your chance of developing osteoporosis. If you had low peak bone mass or other risk factors that caused you to lose bone, your chance of getting osteoporosis is greater.
How fast you lose bone after you reach menopause. For some women, bone loss happens faster than for others. In fact, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density during the five – seven years following menopause. If you lose bone quickly, you have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis.

Approximately one in two women over age of 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
The greater your bone density is to begin with, the lower your chance of developing osteoporosis. If you had low peak bone mass or other risk factors that caused you to lose bone, your chance of getting osteoporosis is greater.

For some women, bone loss happens faster than for others. In fact, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density during the 5-7 years following menopause. Osteoporosis is more common in older people, especially women. BUT it doesn’t have to happen to YOU when you get older! Osteoporosis can be prevented!