Osteoporosis is not just a woman s disease. Men have it also, although not as often as women do. This is probably because most men have more bone mass than women do. Also, they lose bone more slowly as they age because the amount of testosterone they have drops much more gradually. Women have a quick decrease in estrogen with menopause.
Men have only as many hip fractures as women.
However, men over the age of 75 are three times more likely to die after a hip fracture than are women. The disease has not been as well studied in men as in women. So, some prevention and treatment recommendations come from studies in women. The risk factors for men are similar to those for women smoking, not enough calcium or vitamin D, too much alcohol, family history, too little exercise, and taking certain drugs. Low levels of testosterone in older men seem to increase their loss of bone and chance of hip fracture.