When should someone talk to a doctor about bone health after menopause?

It’s worth talking to a doctor about bone health earlier than many people think, ideally during perimenopause or in the first few years after menopause, because bone loss often speeds up around the final menstrual period and can happen silently. Routine osteoporosis screening usually starts around age 65, but it makes sense to bring it up sooner if you’re postmenopausal and have added risk factors like early menopause, a family history of osteoporosis or fractures, low body weight, smoking, long-term steroid use, osteopenia, or prolonged estrogen deficiency.

A doctor may talk with you about a DEXA scan, fracture risk screening, exercise, calcium and vitamin D, and whether menopausal hormone therapy makes sense for you. At Alloy, our bone health articles explain this well: bone loss after menopause and when to think about hormone therapy for bone longevity. If bone health is part of a bigger menopause picture, you can also connect with a licensed Alloy clinician to talk through your risks and options.

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