Arthritis Asthma Center Bloodless Bone Densitometry Breast Care Ctr. Cancer Risk Ctr. Wellness Hematology and Oncology Imaging Ctr. Inpatient Care Neurology Occupational Health Svc. Osteoporosis A service of the Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease Program Osteoporosis is a thinning and weakening of the bones that increases the chance of fracture.
Fractures can occur in the spine, hip, wrist or elsewhere when a person has osteoporosis.
Up to half of postmenopausal women have osteoporosis and generally they show no symptoms until fractures occur. The exact cause of osteoporosis is not known. A big factor is the loss of natural estrogen that occurs in women around the time of menopause. Osteoporosis can also affect men. This is a simple, painless and safe procedure that takes about ten minutes of actual scan time.