Osteoporosis
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Protect your bones. Preserve your independence.
Osteoporosis is a silent condition that weakens bones, often without symptoms—until a fracture occurs. Osteoporosis screening helps detect low bone density early, allowing for timely action to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of serious fractures.
Why Is Osteoporosis Screening Important?
Early Detection & Intervention
Screening can identify low bone density or osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, enabling early treatment and lifestyle changes to protect your bone health.
Reduced Fracture Risk
Timely diagnosis can significantly lower the risk of hip, spine, and wrist fractures, which are common and often debilitating complications of osteoporosis.
Improved Bone Health
Knowing your bone health status empowers you to take preventive steps—like improving your diet, exercise habits, and calcium/vitamin D intake—to support bone density.
Prevention of Complications
Fractures can lead to loss of mobility, chronic pain, hospitalisation, or loss of independence. Early screening helps you avoid these outcomes.
Monitor Treatment Progress
For those already diagnosed, ongoing screening allows your doctor to track treatment effectiveness and make adjustments if needed.
Who Should Get Screened?
Screening is recommended for:
- Women aged 65+
- Men aged 70+
- Women 50–64 and men 50–69 with risk factors, such as:
- Previous fracture after age 50
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Low body weight or being underweight
- Certain medical conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease)
- Long-term use of medications like corticosteroids
- Noticeable height loss
How Is Bone Density Measured?
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for assessing bone mineral density.
- Quick and painless: The scan takes 15–30 minutes
- Minimal radiation exposure
- Measures bone density in the hip, spine, and sometimes wrist
- Can diagnose osteoporosis, assess fracture risk, and track treatment progress
Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) may also be done alongside a DXA scan to detect fractures in the spine that often go unnoticed but raise your future fracture risk.
Take Charge of Your Bone Health
By getting screened for osteoporosis, you’re taking a proactive step to stay strong, independent, and fracture-free as you age. Speak with your GP today to find out if screening is right for you.