One of the causes is loss of estrogen after menopause. After menopause, women lose between 2-5 percent of bone mass per year for five years. This puts women with thin bones at high risk. Bones become more brittle and more likely to break as they become less dense. Complications can be fatal.
Osteoporosis has no symptoms in the early stages.
It causes back and abdominal pain in the late stages. Estrogen replacement can help stop osteoporosis, so can newer, non-hormonal medications. On the other hand, about one-third lose some of their sex drive. Sexual desire is often diminished during symptoms of perimenopause, but it is often restored when these conditions subside. Vaginal dryness and the thinning of genital tissue can lead to discomfort during sexual intercourse and masturbation.