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Diseases & Conditions

Menopause & Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, increasing the risk of sudden and unexpected fractures. Literally meaning "porous bone," it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength. The disease often progresses without any symptoms or pain. Generally, osteoporosis is not discovered until weakened bones cause painful fractures (bone breakage), often in the back (causing chronic back pain) or hips. Unfortunately, once you have an osteoporotic fracture, you are at high risk of having another. These fractures can be debilitating. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent osteoporosis from ever occurring. Treatments can also slow the rate of bone loss if you have osteoporosis.

What causes osteoporosis?

Though we do not know the exact cause of osteoporosis, we do know how the disease develops. Your bones are made of living, growing tissue. An outer shell of cortical or dense bone wraps trabecular bone, a sponge-like bone. When a bone is weakened by osteoporosis, the "holes" in the "sponge" grow larger and more numerous, weakening the inside of the bone.

Until about age 30, a person normally builds more bone than he or she loses. After age 35, bone breakdown overtakes bone buildup, which causes a gradual loss of bone mass. Once this loss of bone reaches a certain point, a person has osteoporosis.

How is osteoporosis related to menopause?

There is a direct relationship between the lack of estrogen after menopause and the development of osteoporosis. After menopause, bone resorption (breakdown) overtakes the building of new bone. Early menopause (before age 45) and any long phases in which the woman has low hormone levels and no or infrequent menstrual periods can cause loss of bone mass.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms. People may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Collapsed vertebrae may be first noticed when the person suffers severe back pain, loss of height, or spinal deformities such as stooped posture.

Who gets osteoporosis?

Important risk factors for osteoporosis include:

  • Age. After maximum bone density and strength is reached (generally around age 30), bone mass begins to naturally drop with age.
  • Gender. Women over the age of 50 have the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. In fact, women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. Women’s lighter, thinner bones and longer life spans are some of the reasons why they are at high risk for osteoporosis.
  • Race. Research has shown that Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. Additionally, hip fractures are twice as likely to occur in Caucasian women as in black women. However, women of color are more likely to die after a hip fracture.
  • Bone structure and body weight. Petite and thin women have a greater risk of developing osteoporosis because they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames. Similarly, small-boned, thin men are at greater risk than men with larger frames and more body weight.
  • Family history. Heredity is one of the most important risk factors for osteoporosis. If your parents or grandparents have had any signs of osteoporosis, such as a fractured hip after a minor fall, you may be at greater risk of developing the disease.

How can I know if I have osteoporosis?

A painless and accurate test can provide information about your bone health before problems begin. Bone mineral density (BMD) tests, or bone measurements, are X-rays that use very small amounts of radiation to determine bone density. In addition to measuring bone health, the test can determine how severe any osteoporosis is.

Please note that women with no other risk factors whose BMD T-scores are below -2.5 should begin treatment to reduce the risk of fractures. (T-scores compare a person’s BMD to the optimal, or best, density of a healthy 30-year-old woman to determine the risk of fracture.) Women with BMD T-scores below -1.1 and who have other risk factors should also consider beginning treatment to reduce the risk of fractures. Your doctor will talk to you about your own risks for fracture to determine if you need medication.

Who should have a bone mineral density test?

  • All post-menopausal women who suffer a fracture that is suspicious for osteoporosis.
  • All post-menopausal women under age 65 who have one or more additional risk factors.
  • All post-menopausal women age 65 and over, regardless of additional risk factors.

How is osteoporosis treated?

Treatments for osteoporosis include:

  • Weight-bearing exercises (which make your muscles work against gravity)
  • Calcium and vitamin D supplements
  • Prescription medications such as:
    • risedronate (Actonel®, Atelvia®), ibandronate (Boniva®), alendronate (Fosamax®), zoledronic acid (Reclast®)
    • calcitonin (Fortical®, Miacalcin®,)
    • denosumab (Prolia®) (antibody therapy, taken twice a year)
    • raloxifene (Evista®)
    • estrogen therapy
    • injectable teriparatide (Forteo®) (bone-building agent)

Should I consider hormone therapy?

Hormone therapy (HT) is believed to be useful in preventing or decreasing the increased rate of bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. Hormone therapy is generally recommended for postmenopausal women who have:

  • An early menopause
  • A low bone mass, as measured by a bone density test and menopausal symptoms
  • Several other risk factors for osteoporosis, such as: a petite, thin frame; family history of osteoporosis, or a medical problem associated with osteoporosis

While all of the risks associated with HT are not yet known, studies have shown that some types of HT may increase your risk of developing .

  • Breast cancer
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Blood clots
  • High blood pressure (in some women).

If you are using HT to prevent osteoporosis, be sure to talk to your doctor so that you can weigh the benefits of HT against your personal risk for heart attack, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. If needed, your doctor can prescribe different treatments to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.

Finally, it’s important to note that women who have had their uterus removed by hysterectomy are prescribed estrogen alone, not the combination of hormones found in HT. Estrogen therapy alone has been shown to have less risk than combination hormone therapy. Your doctor can provide you more information about how your health history fits in with the risks and benefits of hormone therapy.

Are there alternatives to hormone therapy?

For those women who cannot take hormone therapy for health reasons, or who choose not to for personal reasons, there are alternatives:

  • Fosamax, Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva. These drugs belong to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which prevent bone breakdown. They are used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. They have been shown to slow bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce the risk of spine and non-spine fractures. They may be considered in postmenopausal women who are at risk of developing osteoporosis who wish to maintain bone mass and to reduce the risk of fracture. Boniva is also available in intravenous (IV, by needle) form, given every 3 months by a nurse. Atelvia is a weekly delayed-release formulation which eliminates the need to take the medication on an empty stomach.
  • Reclast. This is an IV bisphosphonate therapy that can be given once a year to treat osteoporosis, or once every other year for prevention in patients with osteopenia (reduced bone mass). Reclast is a good alternative for patients who have problems taking bisphosphonates by mouth. It reduces bone loss, and reduces the risk of both spine and hip fractures.
  • Fortical, Miacalcin. These drugs are made up of a naturally occurring hormone called calcitonin. In women who are at least five years past menopause and have osteoporosis, these drugs slow bone loss and increase density in the spinal bone. Women report that they also ease the pain of bone fractures. However, these drugs are rarely used anymore because there are very few studies about how effective they are. Also, it has been reported to the FDA that there may be a link between these drugs and cancer.
  • Evista. This drug is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that “acts” like estrogen. It is approved for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and can prevent bone loss at the spine, hip, and other areas of the body. Studies have shown that Evista can decrease the rate of vertebral (back) fractures by 30 to 50 percent. This medication has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk. It has the same risk of blood clots as hormone therapy.
  • Prolia. This is an antibody that helps stop the development of bone-removing cells before they cause bone loss. It is given as an injection (shot) twice a year at a doctor’s office. Patients taking Prolia might be at greater risk for infection.

How can I prevent osteoporosis?

There are many ways you can protect yourself against osteoporosis, including:

  • Eat foods high in calcium. Getting enough calcium throughout your life helps to build and keep strong bones. The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for calcium for people age 31 to 50 is 1,200 milligrams (mg) a day. People over 50 should get 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium each day. Excellent sources of calcium are milk and dairy products (low-fat versions are recommended); a variety of seafood, such as canned fish with bones like salmon and sardines; dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale, collards and broccoli; calcium-fortified orange juice; and breads made with calcium-fortified flour.
  • Vitamin D. Your body uses vitamin D to absorb calcium. Being out in the sun for a total of about 20 minutes every day helps most people’s bodies make enough vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D from eggs, fatty fish like salmon, cereal and milk fortified with vitamin D, as well as from supplements. Most people over age 50 can usually safely take 400-2,000 IU of vitamin D a day. However, some patients do not need any vitamin D supplementation. More than 10,000 IU of vitamin D each day is not recommended (unless your caregiver suggests it) because it may harm your liver and even lower bone mass. You should talk to your doctor about your individual vitamin D needs.
  • Estrogen. Estrogen, a hormone produced by the ovaries, helps protect against bone loss. Replacing estrogen that is lost after menopause (when the ovaries stop most of their estrogen production) slows bone loss and improves the body's absorption and retention of calcium. But because estrogen therapy carries risks, it is only recommended for women at high risk for osteoporosis who have other reasons for using it, such as menopausal symptoms. To learn more, talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of estrogen therapy.
  • Avoid certain medications. Some medications--including steroids, certain drugs used to treat seizures (anticonvulsants), blood thinners (anticoagulants), and thyroid medications--increase the rate of bone loss if not used as directed. If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor about how to reduce your risk of bone loss through diet and lifestyle changes.
  • Other preventive steps. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink, and do not smoke. Smoking causes your body to make less estrogen, which protects the bones. Too much alcohol can damage your bones and increase your risk of falling and breaking a bone.

How can I get the calcium my body needs if I'm lactose-intolerant?

If you are lactose-intolerant, or have difficulty digesting milk, you may not be getting enough calcium in your diet. Although you may not be able to eat or drink most dairy products, you do have some choices:

  • You might be able to digest some yogurt and hard cheeses.
  • You can also eat food that contains lactose by first treating it with commercial preparations of lactase (which can be added as drops or taken as pills).
  • You can buy lactose-free dairy products.
  • You can also eat lactose-free foods that are high in calcium, such as leafy green vegetables, salmon, and broccoli.

What are weight-bearing exercises and how do they help strengthen bone?

Weight-bearing exercises are activities that make your muscles work against gravity. Walking, hiking, stair climbing, and jogging are all weight-bearing exercises that help build strong bones. Thirty minutes of regular exercise (at least 4 days a week, or every other day) along with a healthy diet may increase peak bone mass in younger people. Older women and men who exercise regularly may lose less bone or even increase their bone mass.

What can I do to protect myself from fractures if I have osteoporosis?

If you have osteoporosis, it is important to protect yourself against accidental falls, which may cause fractures. Take the following precautions to make your home safe:

  • Remove loose household items, keeping your home free of clutter.
  • Install grab bars on tub and shower walls and next to toilets.
  • Install proper lighting.
  • Remove throw rugs and put treads on floors.