Can menopause cause bone loss in women?
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Riverside Women's Health answered:Both men and women lose bone as they grow older. But dropping estrogen levels around the time of menopause also leads to bone loss in women. Estrogen helps to build and maintain bone. After menopause, bone loss speeds up for several years as estrogen levels rapidly decrease. Bone loss can cause bones to weaken. Weak bones can break more easily. When bones weaken a lot, the condition is called osteoporosis.
This answer is based on source information from the National Women's Health Information Center.
Both men and women lose bone as they grow older. But dropping estrogen levels around the time of menopause also leads to bone loss in women. Estrogen helps to build and maintain bone. After menopause, bone loss speeds up for several years as... More -
Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:Osteoporosis (the thinning of bones) can result in brittle bones that are more prone to fracture (break). We all reach our peak bone mass around age 35. From that time, our bones start getting thinner. Estrogen helps to maintain bone thickness. During menopause, when the estrogen level starts to drop, the bone loss can increase. Calcium, Vitamin D, exercise, and hormone replacement therapy can all help slow bone loss. Medications that slow down or prevent bone loss can also be used.Osteoporosis (the thinning of bones) can result in brittle bones that are more prone to fracture (break). We all reach our peak bone mass around age 35. From that time, our bones start getting thinner. Estrogen helps to maintain bone thickness.... More
