Who is affected?

While you may feel alone with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, the truth is that 1 in 4 women over the age of 50 has osteoporosis and 1 in 8 men. Some ethnicities are more prone to osteoporosis than others. For example, osteoporosis is more common in Caucasian and Asian women.

The number of Canadians with osteoporosis is staggering. Almost 2 million Canadians suffer from this disease.

Women are often diagnosed with osteoporosis after menopause when the decline in estrogen following menopause or insufficient dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D causes an imbalance between the removal of old bone and the creation of new bone, making bones weaker and more likely to break.

There are many women living with osteoporosis who have yet to be diagnosed. Osteoporosis develops slowly, without pain, or noticeable symptoms –often the first sign is a broken bone.

If you are past menopause, or in the transition years surrounding menopause (perimenopause), and haven’t considered your osteoporosis risk, now is the time. If you need help with questions to ask your doctor, click here.