Osteoporosis in Women
Early Diagnosis: The first step toward
preserving your independence

Don't wait for a fracture to diagnose osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that gradually weakens bones, causing them to become brittle and prone to fractures. Osteoporosis and its associated fractures can rob you of your mobility and your independence.

It is estimated that at age 50, a woman has nearly a 40% chance of developing an osteoporotic fracture during her remaining lifetime. A woman's lifetime risk of hip fracture alone is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer-and up to 20% more women who suffer hip fractures die within one year of the fracture than those of a similar age who haven't suffered a hip fracture.

Bone density measurement gives you and your patients an accurate picture of the risk of future fracture.

Important reasons to consider bone density measurement include:

  To help diagnose and manage osteoporosis
  To arrive at an estimate of the risk of
   future fracture
  To assess the possible effect of glucocorticoid
   therapy on bone density
  To assess the possible effect of glucocorticoid
   therapy on bone density
  To assess the need for surgery in patients with
   asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism

Bone density measurement provides an accurate picture of the risk of future fracture
We provide bone density measurement for your patients. Our fully trained staff maintains careful quality control to ensure system integrity, and standardized procedures are followed to assure reliable, reproducible results.

Measurement is safe, noninvasive, and painless for your patients. A measurement usually takes from 5 to 20 minutes. We send a report to you as soon as possible. The results include bone mineral density measurements and comparisons with peak bone mass measurements in a young adult normal population of the same sex and race.

Many women who are postmenopausal are at risk of osteoporosis. The presence of any one of these factors can add to your risk:

   Caucasian race or Asian ethnicity
   Thin or small build
   Family history of osteoporosis or
   osteoporotic fracture
   Early menopause (before age 45)
   Smoking
   Inactive lifestyle
   Chronic use of certain medications such as
   steroids, excessive thyroid hormone, and
   certain anticonvulsants
   Excessive alcohol use

FAQ for Osteoporosis

What can I do to detect osteoporosis?
Early detection using bone density measurement is the best way to protect yourself from the potentially debilitating effects of osteoporosis.

What is a bone density measurement?
A bone density measurement will determine your bone mineral density (BMD) for the area measured and compare that result with the average BMD of young adult normals of your sex and race at their peak BMD. This information will help your doctor determine if you need to take certain steps to protect your bone health. Bone density measurement is simple, safe, noninvasive, and painless, and you don,t need to undress.

How long does a measurement take?
Five minutes.

How much radiation will I be exposed to?
You will be exposed to very little radiation-in fact, in most cases, less than a standard chest X-ray. As with any medical procedure, be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing, preferably something without metal buttons, buckles, or zippers.

Is a bone density measurement the same as a bone scan?
A bone scan, which may help a doctor to identify certain bone abnormalities such as infection, inflammation, and cancer, requires an injection of radioactive material. A bone density measurement requires no special preparation, medication, or injection.

If you think you may be at risk for osteoporosis, ask your doctor if a bone density measurement will be of value to you