How is osteoporosis different in postmenopausal women?

Oestrogen helps regulate the normal cycle of bone breakdown and rebuilding. When oestrogen levels fall around menopause, bone breakdown can outpace rebuilding. This may reduce the strength of the spine, hip, wrist and other bones. The change is different from ordinary aches: osteoporosis itself often causes no warning symptoms until a bone breaks.

A fracture after a minor fall, a gradual loss of height, or a more rounded upper back can be clues to weakened vertebrae. A bone-density scan can estimate bone mineral density, while a clinician also considers age, previous fractures, medicines, falls and other health conditions. Menopause is one factor, not the only explanation for low bone strength.

Arrange an assessment if you have had a low-impact fracture, have risk factors for bone loss, or are concerned about changes in height or posture. Your clinician may review medicines and decide whether bone-density testing or treatment is appropriate.

Protect bone and reduce falls by doing weight-bearing activity and strength exercises suited to your ability, keeping walkways well lit and clear, and including calcium- and vitamin-D-containing foods in your diet. Do not start supplements or stop prescribed medicine without personalised advice, especially if you have kidney, digestive or other long-term conditions.

Seek urgent medical attention after a fall or minor injury if you have severe hip, back or wrist pain, cannot put weight on a leg, or notice a limb that looks shortened or out of shape. Prompt assessment also matters for sudden back pain with new height loss, because a vertebral fracture may need treatment even when there was no obvious accident.

Contact a clinician soon about persistent back pain, repeated falls, or a fracture that happened during an everyday movement. Early review can identify bone loss and address risks before another injury occurs.

Ask which factors may be affecting your bone strength, whether you need a bone-density scan, and how often your risk should be reassessed. You can also ask which exercises are suitable, whether any current medicine contributes to bone loss, and what symptoms after a fall should prompt urgent review.