As you may already know, being female puts you at risk of developing osteoporosis and broken bones. There are multiple reasons why women are more like to get osteoporosis then men. First of all, women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men. In addition, estrogen is a hormone in women that protects bones. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases around the time of menopause, when estrogen levels drop sharply. In fact, in the five – seven years following menopause, a woman can lose up to 20% of her bone density.

Here are some facts:

• Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, about eight million or 80% are women.
• Approximately one in two women over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis.
• A woman's risk of breaking a hip is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.

Now the good news:

Thirty years ago, most people considered osteoporosis and broken bones to be a part of normal aging. That view has changed. Today we know a lot more about how you can protect your bones throughout your life by eating healthy, exercising and making healthy lifestyle choices. And although it’s never too late to start protecting your bones, the best time to begin is while you’re young. But if you already have osteoporosis or are at risk for it, the good news is that there are many things you can do to prevent bone loss and broken bones.

Osteoporosis and bone health issues vary for girls and women of different ages and ethnic backgrounds. This is why we have developed information for a variety of audiences in this section. We hope you find this information helpful.