What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition of the skeleton in which the bone mass is reduced to a point which is an increased risk of fracture with minimal or even no trauma. With increasing age the risk of hip fractures rapidly increases. Fractures of the hip are particularly common in postmenopausal women because after the menopause, the rate of bone loss is accelerated. One woman in four will have had an osteoporotic fracture by the age of seventy and one in two by eighty. Fractures can cause death. Fracture of the hip has been estimated to result in 30,000 deaths each year in the United States. By 1984 the annual cost of treating hip fractures was $7 billion.
A woman at the menopause has a lifetime risk of 15% of having a fracture of a hip. This risk is e quivalent to the combined risk for breast, uterine (womb) and ovarian cancer. A bone density scan at the menopause can provide a reasonable prediction of the likelihood of osteoporosis in later life. Bone density scanning technology has become extremely accurate.
Crush fractures of the vertebrae are thought to be three times as common as hip fractures. These fractures result in decreased height and increasing curvature of the spine. A much loved member of my family told me that as a result of such curvature she had difficulty looking up. This made her feel demoralised and reduced her self-esteem.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What will happen to me at my menopause?
- 2 Why does nature put women through the menopause?
- 3 Is life-expectancy changing?
- 4 What happens to my reproductive hormones at the menopause?
- 5 What non-hormonal changes occur at the menopause?
- 6 What problems might I have as a result of my menopause?
- 7 When am I likely to reach my menopause?
- 8 What is a premature menopause?
- 9 What are hot flushes and will HRT reduce them?
- 10 What causes hot flushes and night sweats?
- 11 Can my bladder problems be related to the menopause?
- 12 Can the menopause be associated with psychological problems.
- 13 How long can my menopausal (climacteric) symptoms last?
- 14 Is there a test that will accurately determine when my menopause has occurred?
- 15 Is it normal to experience heavy periods before the menopause?
- 16 How are heavy periods around the time of the menopause treated?
- 17 Is there a need to investigate vaginal bleeding after the menopause (postmenopausal bleeding)?
- 18 What could be the cause of vaginal bleeding after the menopause?
- 19 What is atrophic vaginitis?
- 20 What local genital symptoms can be associated with the menopause?
- 21 I have gone through the menopause and now have some bleeding (postmenopausal bleeding PMB). What will my gynaecologist wish to do?
- 22 Could I have any other long-term medical problems resulting from my menopause?
- 23 What is coronary heart disease?
- 24 What is osteoporosis?
- 25 Where else can I obtain further information?
- 26 Could I have some recommended menopause support groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, retired Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
- Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.





