One of the risk factors for osteoporosis, and there are many, is that the person is female. That can bring up a lot of questions that Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN wants to help answer for you. There are some good reasons that osteoporosis is slightly more common in women than in men.
Lower Body Weight
Women tend to have a lower body weight overall than men do, which means that their bones are lighter as well. Having lighter bones to begin with means that as bone loss happens, it’s more likely to have a detrimental effect on that person. Women can improve their bone health in a variety of ways, but it’s possible that they’re already starting at a disadvantage.
Early Menopause
Menopause itself can lead to osteoporosis because of estrogen levels dropping. But something that many women don’t think about is that early menopause, either naturally or because of a hysterectomy, can cause osteoporosis to occur much earlier than it might have otherwise. It’s important if your hormone levels have changed significantly to make sure you’re looking at all the ways that can impact your life and your health.
Changes in Estrogen Levels
Menopause isn’t the only reason that estrogen levels change, however. Some other medical conditions, like PCOS or anorexia, can affect this vital hormone. As those estrogen levels drop, the risk of osteoporosis rises greatly. If you’re aware of that possibility, you can do more proactively to avoid serious damage to your bones.
Medications
Some medications can cause bone loss or weakening, too. Many are medications that both men and women take, but that may affect womens’ endocrine systems differently, like steroids and thyroid medications. If you’re taking some of these types of medications, it can be important to talk to your doctor about how you can offset potential bone loss or stay on top of what’s happening with your bone health. Medication side effects can sometimes be serious, yet those risks may not outweigh the benefit your doctor feels you would receive from taking that medication.
Bone health is a serious part of your overall health. If you’re wondering what precautions you should start taking now to protect your bone health in the future, give us a call at Eagle’s Landing OB/GYN in Stockbridge, GA. We’ll be happy to set up an appointment to talk about your concerns around osteoporosis, estrogen levels, and anything else that might affect both.
