Fast Facts: 10 Facts About Osteoporosis in Women

• Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about 80% are women.

• A woman is more likely to develop osteoporosis than a man because women tend to have smaller, thinner bones; lower levels of testosterone; and a decrease in estrogen levels, which helps protect bones, after they have reached menopause.

• Risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• Reduced hormones after menopause
• A family history of osteoporosis
• Taking certain medicines to treat health issues such as arthritis, asthma, lupus or thyroid disease
• Having a disease that interferes with building bone, such as rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or kidney or liver disease
• Being a white or Asian woman
• Low bone density
• Low body weight
• Smoking
• Inactive lifestyle
• Eating a diet low in calcium and/or vitamin D
• A history of eating disorders
• A history of falls or fractures

• Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. White and Asian women are at higher risk than Black women.

• To diagnose osteoporosis and bone fractures, healthcare providers use a bone density scan. Sometimes other tests may be used, including a bone X-ray, CT scan or MRI.

• Although osteoporosis is more common in older women, it sometimes affects young people, including premenopausal women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

• Diagnosis of osteoporosis in young women can be complicated and medicines that are available are not approved by the FDA for use in premenopausal women.

• Some women develop a temporary type of osteoporosis during pregnancy. This is extremely rare and usually goes away shortly after they give birth.

• Breastfeeding may cause some temporary bone loss. However, bone density recovers over time and should not cause long-term harm to a woman’s bone health.

• Women with a diagnosis of osteoporosis should speak to their healthcare providers (HCPs) about treatments available to increase bone formation to help reduce the risk of fracture.

• It is important to take preventive measures throughout earlier years to preserve bone health. Some key steps are:

• Include recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your diet.
• Add weight-bearing exercises and resistance activities to your daily routine to promote bone growth and strength.
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
• Ask your HCP when you should have a bone density test.

This resource was created with support from Amgen.