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    "parsed_content": "AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTSupported bySKIP ADVERTISEMENTWhen Do Women Really Need a Bone Scan?Some doctors and influencers say women shouldn\u2019t wait until their 60s for a DEXA scan. Here\u2019s what to consider before getting one.Share full articleCredit...Eleni KalorkotiBy Danielle FriedmanPublished Sept. 9, 2026Updated Sept. 10, 2026Leer en espa\u00f1olIn the last few years, there\u2019s been a cultural push for women in midlife to build strong bones.Menopause influencers and medical organizations alike have focused on the message that women\u2019s risk for fractures increases dramatically after menopause, and that they should think about their bone density much earlier than their mothers might have.The American Medical Association recommends that women get their first DEXA scan \u2014 a low-dose X-ray that is the gold standard test for determining bone density \u2014 at 65 or older, unless they have a risk factor for osteoporosis.But a growing number of doctors and bone health experts now recommend earlier scans. They argue that if women wait until 65, they may miss a critical window to prevent osteoporosis.\u201cFor years, osteoporosis has been thought of as something that we identify and treat, not something we prevent,\u201d said Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University School of Medicine. As researchers have learned more about prevention, that mind-set has begun to shift, she said.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAnd yet the scans have not been studied as a screening tool for younger women without known risk factors for fractures, and no major medical organization supports this approach.Here\u2019s what to know about when to get a DEXA scan and how to take care of your bone health.How your bones change over timeYour bones are constantly rebuilding themselves, said Dr. Angela Cheung, the director of osteoporosis care for the University Health Network in Toronto.Women reach their peak bone mass by their 20s to 30s. Generally, the more weight-bearing exercise you have done throughout your life \u2014 or activity that requires your body to resist gravity, such as jumping or resistance training \u2014 the stronger your bones will be, as long as you have maintained good nutrition.Women see a significant drop in bone density in the years around menopause, which typically happens between 45 and 55. This is because estrogen, which plummets during menopause, helps bones stay strong.Without taking steps to preserve their bone density, women lose an average of 10 percent of it in the five to seven years after menopause.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTFor women who start out with high bone density, this drop in estrogen may not lead to weak bones, Dr. Cheung said. But for many other women, the transition can lead to osteoporosis.Your Questions About Menopause, AnsweredCard 1 of 8What are perimenopause and menopause?\u00a0Perimenopause is the final years of a woman\u2019s reproductive years\u00a0that leads up to menopause, the end of a woman\u2019s menstrual cycle. Menopause begins one year after a woman\u2019s final menstrual period.What are the symptoms of menopause?\u00a0The symptoms of menopause\u00a0can begin during perimenopause and continue for years. Among the most common are hot flashes, depression, genital and urinary symptoms, brain fog and other neurological symptoms, and skin and hair issues. Here\u2019s a head-to-toe guide\u00a0to the midlife transition.How can I find some relief from these symptoms?\u00a0A low-dose birth control pill can control bleeding issues and ease night sweats during perimenopause. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine can reduce hot flashes, while cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation can make them more tolerable. Menopausal hormone therapy\u00a0and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine can also ease some symptoms.What is Veozah?\u00a0Veozah is the first nonhormonal\u00a0medication\u00a0to treat hot flashes in menopausal women; it was recently approved by the F.D.A. The drug targets a neuron in the brain that becomes unbalanced as estrogen levels fall. It might be particularly helpful for women over 60 because, at that age, starting hormonal treatments can be considered risky.How long does perimenopause last?\u00a0Perimenopause usually begins in a woman\u2019s 40s and can last for four to eight years. The average age of menopause is 51, but for some it starts a few years before or later. The symptoms can last for a decade or more, and at least one symptom \u2014 vaginal dryness \u2014 may never get better.What can I do about vaginal dryness?\u00a0There are several things to try to help mitigate the discomfort: lubricants, to apply just before sexual intercourse; moisturizers, used about three times a week; and\/or estrogen, which can plump the vaginal wall lining. Unfortunately, most women will not get 100% relief from these treatments.What is primary ovarian insufficiency?\u00a0The condition refers to when their ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40; it can affect women in their teens and 20s. In some cases the ovaries may intermittently \u201cwake up\u201d and ovulate, meaning that some women with primary ovarian insufficiency may still get pregnant.Fact, or fiction?\u00a0We asked gynecologists, endocrinologists, urologists and other experts about the biggest menopause misconceptions they had encountered. Here\u2019s what they want patients to know.Many risk factors also predispose women to the disease, including a history of eating disorders, smoking, heavy drinking, a family history of osteoporosis or simply being thin.What a DEXA scan can tell youYou\u2019re never too young to think about your bones, experts say: The sooner you prioritize weight-bearing exercise and good nutrition, the better off you will be.But osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease, because many women only learn they have it after a fracture, the experts said.A DEXA scan measures the density of your hip and spine bones. It can tell you whether you have osteopenia, a condition that can be a precursor to osteoporosis. It can also identify osteoporosis and help you determine whether to start medication to reduce your risk of fractures. After the scan, your provider will share a score that indicates whether your density is normal or low.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTDEXA scans for body composition, offered by some gyms and wellness centers, can provide insights into muscle and fat tissue but they are not especially revealing about fracture risk, Dr. Cheung said. The current medical recommendations for DEXA scans focus on screening older women for osteoporosis to prevent fractures, because research on the disease has focused on this population, said Dr. Joel Tsevat, a member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an expert panel that decides which screenings insurance companies must cover.(To date, no major studies have been published on the preventive health benefits of performing DEXA scans on women who are under 65 and at average risk for fractures.)Still, Dr. Tsevat said that women younger than 65 who have gone through menopause and have at least one additional risk factor should discuss earlier screening with their provider.The argument for earlier DEXA scansMost women\u2019s health advocates who push for earlier DEXA scans agree that the ideal time for women to learn their bone density is at menopause, when they face the choice of whether to start hormone therapy.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTResearch has shown that estrogen therapy can help to preserve a woman\u2019s bone density, so knowing your score can be a valuable tool in deciding whether to take the hormone, said Mary Bouxsein, a bone health researcher and professor at Harvard Medical School. (The efficacy can vary based on dose and formula.)But the therapy is most effective and safest if you start it within 10 years of menopause \u2014 which, for most women, means before 65, Dr. Bouxsein said.On social media, a small but vocal contingent of doctors and physician influencers has argued that all women should receive a base-line DEXA scan in their 30s or early 40s. (Last year, an orthopedic surgeon in Kansas City started a campaign for women to get an initial scan at 40, the same age women are advised to get their first mammogram.) Some of these proponents offer DEXA scans at private clinics and sell products marketed to support bone density.They argue that by getting an initial DEXA before menopause, you can learn your starting point, which could be useful when estrogen starts to drop. If you get a second DEXA at menopause and learn that your bone density has rapidly decreased, this could influence your decision to start hormone therapy.But while most experts agree that getting a DEXA scan before menopause isn\u2019t harmful, some argue it could create a false sense of security or anxiety, depending on a woman\u2019s results.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTAnd for most women, knowing their score that early on doesn\u2019t change what they can do to prevent disease. (Though some premenopausal women at high risk for fractures, including some athletes and cancer patients, can benefit from earlier DEXA scans, the experts said.)How to protect your bonesWhether your DEXA score is normal or low, similar steps can help lower your risk of falls and fractures.Regular resistance training and exercise that involves impact can help keep your bones strong, said Lora Giangregorio, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo in Canada.While some fitness influencers claim you have to lift heavy weights to strengthen bone, it\u2019s more important to start at a level that\u2019s challenging for you and progressively push yourself over time by increasing the weight you\u2019re lifting or choosing a harder exercise, Dr. Giangregorio said.Beyond strengthening your bones, working on your balance, mobility and stability can help to prevent falls, she said.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTIt\u2019s also important to eat enough calories to fuel your workouts and daily activities, to eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and to avoid smoking and excessive alcohol use.Ultimately, many of the same habits that support your overall health and well-being throughout your life benefit your bones, too, Dr. Wittstein said.\u201cLuckily, the same things are often good for your heart and your muscles and your bones,\u201d she added. \u201cThere\u2019s so much overlap.\u201dAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENT",
    "published_at": "2026-09-09T15:00:07+00:00",
    "author_name": "Danielle Friedman",
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    "ai_headline": "When Do Women Really Need a Bone Scan?",
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    "ai_excerpt": "A cultural push suggests women in midlife consider DEXA scans earlier than traditionally recommended to prevent osteoporosis. While medical organizations recommend scans at 65, some experts advocate for earlier screening, especially around menopause, to preserve bone density.",
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