Osteoporosis and menopause are often interlinked to each other due to the estrogen level that influences the specialized bone cells in the body (osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes). Postmenopausal women are often facing difficulties in their health due to the hormonal change that happens in the body. These hormonal changes can cause several physical and mental symptoms, which include mood swings, irritability, vaginal dryness, and also osteoporotic symptoms. One of the major discomforts that postmenopausal women face is osteoporosis. Today, we are going to discuss postmenopausal osteoporosis and its impact on women's bone health.
Navigating the Bone Health Journey: Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Unveiled
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones of the women get weaker and brittle, especially after menopause. It is due to the decrease in the estrogen level, which regulates bone metabolism like osteoblasts (formation of new bone from specialized bone cells) in women. Hence, the falls in the estrogen level have led to a decrease in the density of the bone in menopausal women.
Symptoms of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
Usually, the osteoporosis symptoms are few, which can lead to the progression of the disease if it is not noticed at the correct time. Even postmenopausal women are also unaware of this, which can cause fractures or damage to the bone. Some of the symptoms of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are given below:
- Hot flashes: Individuals may experience a sudden warmth in the upper body (hot flashes).
- Vaginal dryness: Postmenopausal women can experience vaginal dryness due to hormonal changes.
- Headaches: Individuals may experience a headache during the postmenopausal stage.
- Night sweats: Patients may experience heavy sweating during sleeping.
- Reduced sex drive: Individuals may experience low sex drive due to hormonal changes.
- Stiff joints and muscles: Individuals may experience stiffness in the joints and muscles.
- Change in moods: Individuals may experience an alteration in moods like anxiety and depression
- Heart palpitations: Patients may experience an irregular heartbeat.
Risk factors
- Family history: You may have an increased risk of osteoporosis after menopause if any of your family members have it.
- Low body mass index (BMI): Individuals with low BMI are at an increased risk of bone fracture in the postmenopausal stage
- High-dose steroids: Individuals who are taking high doses of steroids for a prolonged period of time are at an increased risk of getting osteoporosis.
- Eating disorder: Womens who have an eating disorder are at an increased risk of getting osteoporosis due to vitamin and calcium deficiency.
- Excessive alcohol and smoking: Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can increase the risk of osteoporosis in women by worsening the health of the individual.
Diagnosis
Postmenopausal women are often diagnosed with DEXA or DXA scan, which helps to identify the bone density of the patients. It helps to measure bones around the spine and the upper part of the hip.
Treatment and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Postmenopausal osteoporosis can be effectively treated and managed by the following options, which are given below:
1. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS):
SERMS is a type of treatment that helps to treat osteoporosis and postmenopausal symptoms in women by acting either as an estrogen agonist or antagonist based on the target.
2. Bisphosphonates:
These medications are helpful in reducing bone loss in postmenopausal women. Therefore, it reduces the risk of hip and spine fractures in women. Some of the types of bisphosphonate include risedronic acid, alendronic acid, zoledronic acid, and ibandronic acid.
3. Calcium and vitamin D supplements:
They are essential in maintaining bone mass in postmenopausal women. It is also used for the treatment of osteoporosis or bone-related disorders.
4. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT):
Your doctor may suggest an HRT to treat osteoporosis by increasing the estrogen level in postmenopausal individuals.
5. Parathyroid hormone therapy:
Parathyroid is a hormone involved in the regulation of calcium levels in bones. Medicine like teriparatide can help stimulate both osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation in postmenopausal women. Forteo injection is a special type of medication that contains an active ingredient called teriparatide. It is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women.
Your healthcare provider will give an appropriate treatment plan and management strategies based on your health condition and the disease severity.
Conclusion
It is recommended to engage with your doctor and speak about the symptoms you are facing during the menopause stage to avoid the risk of osteoporosis. It is also important to follow a healthy lifestyle to maintain bone health after menopause.