Symptoms of osteoporosis do not occur until a lot of bone strength is lost. The most visible symptoms may include loss of height along with curvature of the upper back. Osteoporosis also can result in a crippling and painful fracture, occurring most often in the hip, back, or wrist. Age is an important factor. Everyone, both men and women, loses bone strength as they grow older.
Women have higher risk for osteoporosis than men do as women often have smaller, thinner frames.
After menopause, women produce less of a hormone called estrogen. Estrogen helps protect women against bone loss. The Bone Densitometry Test, using a piece of equipment called a Bone Densitometer, provides information about the risk of bone fracture in the same way a cholesterol test indicates risk of a heart attack. A Bone Densitometer uses small amounts of x-ray to produce images of the spine, hip, or even the whole body. The x-ray is composed of two energy levels which are absorbed differently by the bones in the body.