Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

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Osteoporosis

A woman's body produces less estrogen during and after menopause, which may affect her bone strength. The WHI study showed that women taking HRT had 34% fewer hip fractures and 24% fewer fractures than women not receiving hormones.

However, the short-term use of HRT to relieve symptoms at the time of menopause does little to prevent fractures in women when they reach 75-80 years of age. Women who take estrogen to maintain bone density must continue taking estrogen because the beneficial effects on bones disappear when it is discontinued.

Women who are considering taking HRT to prevent osteoporosis should discuss with their physician their individual risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer.

Instead, supplemental calcium and increasing Vitamin D intake may be recommended for some women to help prevent and treat loss of bone mass. Other lifestyle changes, such as adding an exercise regimen to your routine and not smoking, may help in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis as well.

In addition, there are some medications available specifically for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. These include risedronate, calcitonin, etidronate, and alendronate.