Why do Women Develop Osteoporosis?
In women, the onset of menopause is often the
trigger for osteoporosis, because it upsets the
balance of the building and breaking down of bone.
Prior to menopause, bone follows a continuous
life cycle of gradual creation and breakdown.
In childhood and early adulthood, a woman's bones
become stronger as she produces more bone than
she breaks down. Her bones reach a peak strength
and density -- known as "peak mass" -- in her late 20s, and she maintains that bone
strength for 10 to 15 years.
In the years surrounding menopause, however,
a woman begins to lose bone mass rapidly as her
estrogen level falls. A woman can lose as much
as 25 percent of her bone mass in the first five
years after menopause. The rate of bone loss slows
after five years, tapering down to between one
and three percent annually.
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