• At least one-third of women aged 65 years and older experience one or more falls each year, and the risk of falling and of fracture increases with advancing age.

• Osteoporosis is a common disorder with potentially serious consequences. Assessment of your skeletal health should be a part of routine care if you’re a postmenopausal woman. 

• Your annual examination should include measurements of height and weight; assessment for chronic back pain; and clinical risk factors for osteoporosis, fractures, and falls.

• Osteoporosis, especially prevalent in older postmenopausal women, increases the risk of fractures that can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

• Postfracture pain, loss of mobility, changed body image, and loss of independence can have strong effects on self-esteem and mood.

TESTING:

Bone mineral density testing is indicated for all postmenopausal women with risk factors for low BMD or fracture. – DXA is the preferred technique for BMD testing.

For untreated postmenopausal women at low fracture risk, repeat DXA testing is not useful until at least 5 years have passed, unless rapid bone loss is anticipated. 

Supplemental Research 

https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/2021-osteoporosis-position-statement.pdf

Management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: the 2021 position statement of The North American Menopause Society