Osteoporosis and Broken Bones

“A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis
is equal to her risk of
breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined”.1

Umbrella

What may the Osteoporosis and Broken Bones Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Breaking A Hip
  • Osteoporotic Fractures

Osteoporosis

Is there an association between osteoporosis and broken bones?

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF):

“Osteoporosis is a disease which makes bones weak and fragile. This greatly increases the risk of breaking a bone even after a minor fall or bump. The disease has no obvious symptoms, so many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they suffer a fracture. Fractures can be life-altering, causing pain, disability and loss of independence. That’s why it’s important to prevent osteoporosis!”2

Common or Not

How common are broken bones due to osteoporosis?

In What Is Osteoporosis? About Osteoporosis the IOF explain:

“Around the world, one in three women and one in five men over the age of fifty will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis”.3

Osteoporosis and Broken Bones

Falls

How common are falls?

In Preventing Falls and Broken Bones the (United States) Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) note:

“Each year about a third of all persons over age 65 will fall. Many of these falls result in a broken bone, often the hip or wrist. Broken bones at any age can be painful, difficult to heal, and cause life-long challenges affecting your activities and independence. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you fall, worry about falling, or feel unsteady”.4

Risk Comparison

What is the risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis, compared to the risk of breast or prostate cancer?

In Are You At Risk? [+ Video: Risk Factors] the BHOF also note:

“A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer”.5

Hormone Therapy

Can hormone therapy (HT) lower the risk of fractures?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (now the Menopause Society note:

“Hormone therapy keeps your bones strong by preserving bone density and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures. If preserving bone density is your only concern, and you do not have bothersome hot flashes, other treatments may be recommended instead of HT”.6

On page two in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause first published online 10 June 2022, two of the recommendations are:

  • “In addition, HRT has been shown to have an effective role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are considered as first-line options for most patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis due to their broad spectrum of anti-fracture efficacy. HRT may be considered as an additional alternative option, particularly in younger postmenopausal women with menopausal symptoms who are at increased risk of fractures.
  • HRT is considered as first-line intervention for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and early menopause (40–45 years old)”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I think I am at risk for fractures?

If you think you are at risk for fractures, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Osteoporosis and Broken Bones?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Osteoporosis and Broken Bones?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. About Osteoporosis
  2. Are You At Risk?
  3. Bisphosphonates
  4. Bone Health
  5. Bone Health and Osteoporosis | What Should You Avoid If You Have Osteoporosis?
  6. Bonehealthandosteoporosis.org [Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, United States]
  7. Communication With Your Doctor and Healthcare Team
  8. DEXA (DXA) Scan
  9. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  10. Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs
  11. Exercise
  12. Exercise To Stay Healthy
  13. FRAX Fracture Risk Assessment Tool: Calculation Tool
  14. Fall Prevention: Simple Tips To Prevent Falls
  15. Fall Risk Assessment
  16. Falls
  17. Falls Prevention
  18. Falls – Multiply Languages
  19. Finding Balance: 3 Simple Exercises To Steady Your Steps
  20. Get A Bone Density Test
  21. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  22. Looking After Yourself
  23. Lower Your Risk of Falling
  24. May Is Osteoporosis Awareness Month
    Osteoporosis and Broken Bones
  25. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  26. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  27. National Falls Prevention Resource Center
  28. National Falls Prevention Resource Center: Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers
  29. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases [United States]: Understanding Bone Health
  30. Nutrition for Bones
  31. Older Adult Fall Prevention
  32. Osteopenia
  33. Osteoporosis
  34. Osteoporosis
  35. Osteoporosis
  36. Osteoporosis & Fractures
  37. Osteoporosis To Prevent Fractures: Screening [Final Recommendation Statement United States Preventive Services Task Force
  38. Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
  39. Osteoporosis, the Silent Disease, Can Shorten Your Life − Here’s How To Prevent Fractures and Keep Bones Healthy
  40. Osteoporosis.Risk.Check. Could You Be At Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures?
  41. Plant-Based Diets and Risk of Hip Fracture In Postmenopausal Women
  42. Preventing Falls and Broken Bones
  43. Preventing Fractures
  44. Preventing Fractures and Falls
  45. Prevention
  46. Prevention of Falls and Fractures
  47. Risk Assessment (FRAX)
  48. Risk Factors
  49. Screening for Osteoporosis
  50. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  51. Tips on Preventing Falls At Home [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  52. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  53. Updates on Exercise and Lifestyle Tips for Bone Strength With Joanne Fagerstrom, PT CFP
  54. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  55. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause
  56. Vision and Eye Health: About Vision Impairment and Falls Among Older Adults
  57. Vitamin D
  58. Webinars: Previous – Osteoporosis for Midlife Women and Beyond
  59. Webinars: Previous – Approach To Bone Health In the Perimenopause and Postmenopause?
  60. What Women Need To Know
  61. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women – Menopause and Menopause Hormone TherapyOsteoporosis and Broken Bones
  62. Osteoporosis and Broken BonesWorld Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women – The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Are You At Risk? Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/bone-basics/are-you-at-risk/ Accessed: 25 April 2025
  2. What Is Osteoporosis? International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis Accessed: 25 April 2025
  3. What Is Osteoporosis? About Osteoporosis. International Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.osteoporosis.foundation/patients/about-osteoporosis Accessed: 25 April 2025
  4. Preventing Falls and Broken Bones. Last Reviewed: 21 September 2022. Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/patients/fracturesfall-prevention/ Accessed: 25 April 2025
  5. Are You At Risk? Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/preventing-fractures/general-facts/bone-basics/are-you-at-risk/ Accessed: 25 April 2025
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. July 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 25 April 2025
  7. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 25 April 2025
Topic Last Updated: 25 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 April 2025

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