Bone Density Scans (DEXA)
Protecting Your Bones: The DEXA Scan for Menopause
The Silent Risk: Understanding Bone Health in Menopause
Of all the health changes that occur during menopause, one of the most significant—and most silent—is the impact on your bones. You don’t feel it happening, but from the moment you enter the menopausal transition, the structural integrity of your skeleton is at risk. The loss of estrogen accelerates bone density loss, dramatically increasing your risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones weak, brittle, and highly susceptible to fracture.
A fracture in your post-menopausal years, particularly of the hip or spine, can be a life-altering event. But this is not an inevitable part of aging. It is a preventable condition. The single most powerful tool we have to understand your personal risk and protect your future is the DEXA scan. At MyMenopauseSupport.org, I consider this scan to be an essential part of a proactive midlife health strategy.
DEXA Scan
What is a DEXA Scan?
DEXA (or DXA) stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. It is a quick, painless, and highly accurate scan that uses very low-dose X-rays to measure the density and strength of your bones. It is the gold standard for diagnosing osteopenia (the early stage of bone loss) and osteoporosis.
The scan typically measures the bone density in your hip and lower spine, as these are key areas for assessing your overall bone health and future fracture risk. The results provide a clear, data-driven picture of your skeleton’s health, allowing us to intervene before a problem occurs.
Why is a DEXA Scan So Crucial for Women in Midlife?
Estrogen is a powerful protector of your bones. It helps to regulate the constant process of bone remodeling, ensuring that your body builds new bone at the same rate that it breaks down old bone.
When estrogen levels plummet during menopause, this balance is disrupted. Your body starts to break down old bone faster than it can build new bone, leading to a rapid decline in bone mineral density.[1] This process is silent and has no symptoms. The first sign of osteoporosis is often a fracture from a minor fall or bump that would not have caused a break in your younger years.
A DEXA scan allows us to see this happening long before that point, giving us a crucial window of opportunity to implement a protective strategy.
The DEXA Scan Procedure
Simple, Quick, and Painless
What to Expect
- The scan is very easy. You will lie comfortably on your back on a padded scanner bed while a scanning arm passes over your body. You remain fully clothed.
How Long it Takes
- The procedure is very quick, typically taking only 10 to 20 minutes.
Safety
- A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of radiation—less than you would be exposed to on a transatlantic flight. It is an extremely safe procedure.
