Bone Density Testing 50% of all women in the US over the age of 50 have thinning bones. Fortunately, taking care of your bones starts with a simple, quick, and painless bone density test. Once you get the result, you can talk to your doctor about the test and if necessary, treatment options. Because now, bone loss can be reversed! It’s important to know that your bones can begin to weaken as you age, especially after menopause. Eventually, if your bone loss goes unchecked, you could develop osteoporosis and bone fractures. Throughout your life, your bones go through bone-building cycles, in which old bone is broken down and new bone is formed. Bone density decreases when an imbalance in this cycle causes more bone to break down than is replaced. When you have lost 20% of your bone mass, you have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is often called a “silent disease” because there are no symptoms, so you can’t tell your bones are becoming weak. Sometimes women will not know they have thinning bones until a bone breaks. Between the ages of 25 and 35, bone mass usually peaks, but after the age of 35, women can lose bone – a loss that tends to accelerate after menopause. The good news is that it’s possible to reverse bone loss and make your bones stronger and that’s why it’s important to come into Ob-Gyn Associates and have a bone density test. A bone mineral density (BMD) test will tell you and your doctor whether you have low bone mass or osteoporosis. Compared to many tests women take, a BMD test is simple and painless – with no injections or invasive procedures and you will remain clothed. And the test is usually over in a matter of minutes. The test is covered by Medicare and most private insurance companies. OB-GYN Associates uses the new “gold standard” Central Dexa Scanner, a state of the art bone density scanner that provides a fast, simple and painless non-invasive bone mineral density measurement useful in diagnosing your bone health. In addition to advanced age post menopausal women being of greatest risk of developing osteoporosis, other risk factors are: • Caucasian, Asian and thin or small-boned women • A family history of osteoporosis • Early menopause (before age 45) • Abnormal absence of menstrual periods • Use of certain medications, such as steroids (for asthma or arthritis), or excessive use of thyroid hormone • Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia • Smoking cigarettes • Too much caffeine or alcohol • Too little calcium or vitamin D in diet • Infrequent exercise Because bone loss is a natural part of the aging process and tends to accelerate after menopause, follow up testing is important. In addition, if you are already taking treatment for thinning bones, a BMD test is a good way to measure your progress. Be sure to talk to your doctor about scheduling follow-up tests.