Menopause, Estrogen and Bones
Estrogen helps your body absorb calcium, which slows the loss of bone mass. For this reason, the decrease in estrogen during menopause can lead to greater loss of bone mass.
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Rate of Bone Loss
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According to the Baylor College of Medicine, a post-menopausal woman loses bone tissue at an estimated rate of 3 to 5 percent a year.
Estrogen Replacement
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Although hormone replacement therapy can provide the body with estrogen and prevent loss of bone mass, the Women's Health Initiative study showed an increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots in women using hormone replacement.
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Other Factors
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Baylor College of Medicine notes that using estrogen short term does not protect your body's bones enough. They recommend a healthy diet with lots of calcium or calcium supplements and weight-bearing exercise. Drugs are also available to protect bone density.
Another View
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According to the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), women with higher levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) have lower bone density than other women. The study also noted that because estrogen levels can vary greatly as women approach menopause, finding a relationship between estrogen levels and bone density is difficult.
Considerations
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Menopause is a natural process and every woman is different. Understand your body and work with a health care provider to determine what's best for you.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Sherrie Thai
