Parenting Marriage Secret Acts of Service Weight-Mgt Special Interests TFC Store Weight Mgt. In Touch Scheduled Chats Advertising Info. It is estimated that more than 25 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis. The disease affects 1 in 4 women older than 65 years and 1 in 2 women older than 80 years old. One third of a woman's lifetime bone loss can occur in the first 5 years after menopause.
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease which is characterized by low bone mass.
A low bone mass can result in an increase in bone fragility and an increased risk for bone fracture. There are two general categories of osteoporosis. Type 1 is the most common and is due to estrogen deficiency. Usually after menopause when the levels of circulating estrogen falls, women not on hormone replacement therapy may experience loss of bone density. This renders the bone thin and brittle, commonly resulting in fractures of the hip, femur, pelvis, and back.