Does hormone replacement therapy treat postmenopausal osteoporosis?

Oestrogen helps regulate the balance between bone breakdown and rebuilding. After menopause, lower oestrogen can accelerate bone loss, which may weaken the skeleton without causing early symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy may help preserve bone density while it is being used, but the choice depends on fracture risk, menopause symptoms and other health factors. It is not automatically the first or only treatment for established osteoporosis, and protection may not continue after it is stopped.

Ask about a bone-density assessment and how previous fractures, falls, family history, smoking, alcohol, nutrition and medicines affect your risk. Your plan may include weight-bearing activity, muscle strengthening, adequate calcium and vitamin D from suitable sources, fall prevention and a bone-specific medicine. Discuss hormone therapy only after reviewing clotting, cardiovascular, breast and womb health, as well as the symptoms you want treated.

Seek prompt assessment after a fall that causes new bone pain, sudden back pain, loss of height or difficulty bearing weight. Urgent care is needed for severe pain with weakness, numbness or loss of bladder or bowel control. New vaginal bleeding after menopause also needs medical review, whether or not hormones are being used.

How has my fracture risk been assessed? Would hormone therapy address my menopause symptoms as well as bone health? What bone-specific options and monitoring do I need?