Perimenopausia y menopausia

Bone health and osteoporosis

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

After menopause, lower oestrogen speeds up bone loss and raises the risk of osteoporosis. Here is why it happens and what you can do to protect your bones.

Why bones weaken after menopause

Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones weak, so they break easily. Women usually have smaller, thinner bones than men. The most common reason for bone loss in women is very low levels of the hormone oestrogen, which is what happens after menopause. Some women lose up to a quarter of their bone mass in the first 10 years after menopause. In the United States, about 1 in 4 women aged 65 or over has osteoporosis.

A silent condition

Osteoporosis usually causes no symptoms. You can lose bone for many years without knowing it, until a bone breaks. Breaks are most common in the hip, the wrist and the spine. Because there are no early warning signs, it helps to know your risk and to look after your bones before anything happens.

What raises your risk

Being past menopause raises your risk, and an early menopause raises it further. Other risk factors include a small, thin body frame, a family history of osteoporosis, not getting enough calcium and vitamin D, and not being active enough. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, having an eating disorder, and some medicines for long-term health problems also raise the risk. Before menopause, going 3 months in a row without a period also raises your risk.

Protecting your bones

Weight-bearing activity, where your feet and legs carry your weight, such as walking, helps build bone and slow bone loss. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D matters at every age, and the calcium and vitamin D article explains how much you need. Not smoking lowers your risk of broken bones, and if you drink alcohol, keeping to moderate amounts helps. HRT also helps prevent osteoporosis, and a doctor can talk through whether it suits you.

Tests and treatment

A bone density test, usually a type of X-ray scan called DXA, shows how strong your bones are. In the United States, testing is advised for women from 65, or earlier if they have risk factors. Guidance differs between countries, so ask a doctor or nurse. If you have osteoporosis, medicines such as bisphosphonates, denosumab or HRT can help. Talk to a doctor or nurse if you have risk factors, went through menopause early, or have broken a bone more easily than expected.

This is general information. A doctor or nurse can check your bone health and tell you whether you need a bone density test.