Menopause is a natural stage of life, but it can trigger changes that feel anything but natural to your body. From hot flashes and weight gain to mood shifts and decreased sex drive, the transition can affect nearly every system — including your bones.
October is Menopause Awareness Month, so it’s the perfect time to talk about how hormonal changes during this season of life can impact your bone health and what you can do about it.
At Nile Women’s Health Care, we walk with women in Roswell and Johns Creek, Georgia, and across the Atlanta area through every stage of life, including menopause. Our providers offer compassionate, evidence-based care to help you understand the changes in your body and take proactive steps to protect your long-term health.
Estrogen is more than a reproductive hormone — it plays a vital role in keeping your bones strong. Estrogen helps regulate the balance between bone breakdown (resorption) and bone rebuilding (formation). When estrogen levels drop sharply at menopause, it disrupts this balance.
Instead of bone being rebuilt at the same pace it’s broken down, the breakdown speeds up. The result is a rapid loss of bone density that makes your bones weaker and more prone to fracture.
Researchers have found that during the first few years after menopause, women lose about half of their trabecular bone (the spongy inner structure) and up to 30% of their cortical bone (the hard outer layer).
Why does this matter? Trabecular bone is crucial for shock absorption and strength, while cortical bone provides rigidity. When both weaken, the risk of fractures — especially of the spine, hip, and wrist — increases significantly. That’s why osteoporosis is most often diagnosed in women after menopause.
The good news is that you’re not powerless. While menopause accelerates bone loss, lifestyle and medical strategies, such as the following, can help slow the process and protect your bone health.
If you’re at a higher risk for osteoporosis, we can discuss treatment options, including hormone therapy or medications.
If you’re approaching or experiencing menopause, now is the time to get ahead of bone loss. Understanding the connection between estrogen and bone health empowers you to make changes that protect your future mobility, independence, and quality of life.
At Nile Women’s Health Care, we’re here to guide you through every stage of menopause with personalized care. If you have questions about bone health, osteoporosis, or whether you should be screened, call us to schedule an appointment at either of our two locations.
