Postmenopausal Women Can Hardly Avoid Osteoporosis: If You Don’t Fall Into These 3 Groups, Congratulations!

Menopause not only causes uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes and irregular periods but also brings a hidden risk of osteoporosis—often called a “silent killer” that requires serious attention.

The Risk of Osteoporosis After Menopause

Many people believe that menopause is simply the decline of estrogen in the body, leading to irritability, hot flashes, irregular menstruation, and other menopausal symptoms without further impact. However, this is not entirely true.

For example, estrogen plays a crucial role in bone metabolism. When estrogen levels drop continuously, osteoclast (bone resorption cell) activity increases, accelerating bone breakdown, while osteoblast (bone formation cell) function weakens, slowing down bone formation. At the same time, calcium absorption decreases, ultimately leading to reduced bone mass, greater fragility, and osteoporosis.

So, Which Groups of Women Are More Likely to Develop Osteoporosis After Menopause?

Group 1: Women with uncontrollable risk factors.

• Early menopause before age 45, or even before 40. The earlier the menopause, the higher the risk of osteoporosis.

• Family history of osteoporosis-related fractures.

• Women with a small body frame, especially those who excessively diet to lose weight, are more prone to osteoporosis as they age.

Group 2: Women with diseases or medications affecting bone metabolism.

• For example, those with autoimmune or joint diseases requiring long-term corticosteroid use.

• Patients with gastrointestinal conditions who need long-term acid-suppressing medication.
  Both conditions impair calcium absorption, increasing the likelihood of osteoporosis.

Group 3: Women with lifestyle-related risks (controllable factors).

• Sedentary lifestyle and lack of sunlight exposure.

• Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or drinking too much coffee or carbonated soft drinks.
  All of these habits hinder bone mass accumulation and strength, raising the risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis—A Silent Epidemic

Since early-stage osteoporosis shows no clear symptoms, it is often called the “silent epidemic.” As the disease progresses, patients may experience bone pain and spinal deformities. If untreated, it may eventually lead to fractures.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis

The progression from no symptoms to fractures is slow and silent, which is why osteoporosis is often called the “silent killer.” Postmenopausal women at higher risk must be especially vigilant.

What tests help diagnose osteoporosis accurately?
The most common method is bone mineral density testing, especially for high-risk women. Early testing is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention.

The gold standard is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which provides a T-score:

• A normal result: T-score above –1.

• Osteopenia (low bone mass): T-score between –1 and –2.5. About 1 in 2 women over 50 fall into this range.

• Osteoporosis: T-score below –2.5.