Although the menstrual periods may become irregular, pregnancy is still possible and a reliable method of birth control should be used to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Ask your health care provider for further information on menopause or birth control. Thinning of the bones increases the risk of hip fractures and physical deformity of the spine. Talk to your health care professional about possible ways to prevent this disease. More than 2 million American men suffer from osteoporosis, and millions more are at risk.
Osteoporosis can strike at any age.
Osteoporosis is called the silent disease because until there is a fracture it causes no symptoms. That is why prevention and early recognition are important. Risk factors are similar in men and women with the inclusion of menopause in women. Men of all ethnic groups are affected, however white men appear to be at the greatest risk for osteoporosis. The inclusion of links from this site does not imply endorsement by the Department for Public Health.