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Diagnosis
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is usually diagnosed by measuring bone mineral density (BMD), the amount of bony tissue found in a given volume of bone.
Bone density measurements help determine the strength and quality of your bones. Bone mineral density tests are useful for estimating future fracture risk, and for monitoring the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing for the following groups of women:
- Women over the age of 65
- Postmenopausal women under 65 with one or more risk factors, which include (but are not limited to) being female; older age; self or family history of osteoporosis or broken bones; being small and thin; certain races/ethnicities; low sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, etc); diet (low calcium and vitamin D intake; excessive intake of protein, sodium, and caffeine); inactive lifestyle; smoking; alcohol abuse; and certain medications, diseases, and conditions
- Women who have had previous fractures as adults
Ask your doctor what you can do to prevent osteoporosis. Remember—as a woman, you may lose up to 20% of your total skeletal bone mass in the first 5 or 7 years of postmenopause.
Screening tests for osteoporosis must be accurate, sensitive, and easily accessible. Standard x-rays are useful for detecting fractures, but they are not sensitive enough to detect bone loss. The most commonly used method for measuring bone density is DEXA, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
DEXA is a special kind of x-ray that measures the thickness (or density) of your bones. DEXA is fast and precise, and uses minimal doses of radiation. Measurements may be taken at any part of the body, but the spine, wrist, and hips are most often used. After the test is over, your doctor will compare your bone mineral density reading with diagnostic categories established by the World Health Organization.
