1. Osteoporosis Slideshow Pictures
2. Super Foods for Your Bones Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Osteoporosis Quiz

Medical Author:

Bruce A Baethge, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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The only reliable way to detect bone loss is to have a bone mineral density (BMD) test. People with strong risk factors for osteoporosis should have a BMD test. Risk factors include the following:

• Estrogen deficiency from early menopause (age < 45 years), absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea for > 1 year), or hypogonadism (impaired gonads, which are the ovaries or testes, or impaired sex hormones, which are estrogen or testosterone)
• Long-term corticosteroid or anticonvulsant (antiseizure) drug therapy
• Family history of hip fracture
• Low body mass index (BMI)
• Chronic disorders associated with osteoporosis, such as anorexia nervosa or liver disease
• Previous broken bones related to having weak bones
• Loss of height (widow's hump)
• Female sex
• Asian or white race
• Poor diet without enough calcium
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking
• Regular use of large amounts of alcohol

Recommendations in the United States are that all women 65 years and older should have a BMD test. Postmenopausal women younger than 65 years who have one or more risk factors (in addition to being postmenopausal and female) should have a BMD test. Tests that are used to measure BMD include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and quantitative ultrasound (QUS). See Bone Mineral Density Tests for more information.

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