Risk Assessment for Postmenopausal Women

Am I postmenopausal?

You are postmenopausal if you have had permanent loss of your monthly periods. Permanent loss of your monthly periods is considered not menstruating for 12 months in a row without another medical reason. Menopause may occur naturally, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, or following surgical removal of both ovaries. If you are still having menstrual periods, use the "Osteoporosis Risk Assessment for Premenopausal Women".

Who is at risk for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a silent disease that causes bones to become thin and weak, often resulting in broken bones. It can happen to anyone; the disease has no age, gender or ethnic boundaries. Osteoporosis more commonly affects the elderly, postmenopausal women, and individuals of Caucasian or Asian descent. This does not mean that others are not at risk for oseoporosis. Men, African-Americans and other populations get osteoporosis, too; they are just at a slightly lower risk than Caucasian or Asian postmenopausal women.

Why is it important to know my risk factors?

It is important for you to identify your personal risks for osteoporosis. Knowing your risk factors is the first step in taking an active role in the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

Am I at risk for osteoporosis?

You may be at risk for osteoporosis if you answer “yes” to many of the risk factors that follow. The more risk factors that you check, the greater your risk for osteoporosis.

Risk Assessment for Postmenopausal Women PDF small print

Risk Assessment for Postmenopausal Women PDF large print

Check () if you...

	are postmenopausal
	have had an early or surgically-induced menopause at age 45 or younger
	are age 65 or older (the older you are, the greater the risk)
	are Caucasian or Asian
	weigh less than 127 lbs
	have any relatives who have/had osteoporosis (broken bone of the wrist, hip, leg or spine occurring without major trauma, a height loss of more than 1-1/2 inches or stooped back)
	have a personal history of low-impact fractures (broken bones) without trauma, such as a car accident or severe sports injury) during adulthood, x-ray evidence of spine fracture, height loss of more than 1-1/2 inches or stooped posture
	have a history of a temporary loss of monthly periods for more than 12 months before your menopause or infrequent periods for several years before your menopause (excluding the during pregnancy)
Check if you have any of the following chronic diseases/conditions often associated with osteoporosis:
	AIDS
	chronic lung disease
	Type I diabetes
	eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
	hyperparathyroidism (excessive parathyroid hormone)
	hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone)
	inflammatory bowel disease
	kidney disease
	liver disease
	lupus
	malabsorption (from celiac sprue or other gastrointestinal disorders)
	neurological diseases (such as stroke or multiple sclerosis)
	rheumatoid arthritis
	bed rest or immobility for more than 6 months
	frequent falls (associated with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, alcoholism, impaired vision and/or impaired hearing)
Check if you are taking or have taken any of the following medications:
	blood-thinning agents (such as long-term use of coumadin or heparin)
	chemotherapy
	dilantin (phenytoin), and some other drugs used to treat seizure disorder or depression
	gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (lupron and zoladex) used to treat endometriosis
	immunosuppressants (such as methotrexate or cyclosporin)
	Steroids (such as prednisone or cortisone) used for more than 3 months to treat asthma, arthritis or other diseases
	thyroid medications, taken in high dosages, or lack of routine blood tests for TSH-level monitoring
Check if you have a longterm history of any of the following lifestyle risk factors:
	low calcium intake (eating few, if any, dairy products or calcium-fortifed foods and not taking calcium supplements)
	little exercise (less than 60 minutes per week)
	smoking (more than 1 pack a day for more than 5 years) or current use of tobacco products (in any amount)
	drinking alcohol to excess or alcohol abuse

Although risk factors may increase your likelihood of getting osteoporosis, having risk factors does not mean that you have or will get the disease. It is important to be aware that there are rare conditions and medications that may contribute to osteoporosis as well as others that have not yet been identified. Postmenopausal women who do not have any of the above risk factors for osteoporosis may not be protected from developing this disease. Risk assessment should increase your awareness of the potential for osteoporosis and motivate you to discuss your concerns with your medical professional.

What is important to discuss with my doctor or medical professional?

Bone mineral density (BMD) testing is recommended after menopause for women with risk factors and for all women aged 65 or older. To have a BMD test, a prescription from a medical professional is necessary. It is recommended that you speak to your medical professional to discuss your risk for osteoporosis in order to find out if a BMD test is appropriate for you.