Hot flushes, sleep that’s hard to come, mood changes, brain fog – when we talk about menopause, these symptoms tend to steal the spotlight. But there’s another change happening behind the scenes, and it’s all about bones.
You might feel like your bones are pretty permanent, but they’re living tissue that is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. One of the hormones helping to keep that process balanced is oestrogen. As oestrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, bone loss can accelerate, which may increase your risk of developing osteopenia (lower-than-normal bone density) and, eventually, osteoporosis.
And it doesn’t always start after menopause. Bone changes can begin during perimenopause, making your 40s and 50s an important time to start paying attention to what’s happening in your body.
Grace Private’s guide to osteopenia and osteoporosis explains more about how bone density changes as women age and the factors that can influence your individual risk.
You don’t need to be worried, but you do need to be aware.
Many people think osteoporosis is something that happens much later in life. But waiting until you’re older to think about bone health means missing an opportunity to protect your bones now.
Your personal risk can also be affected by factors other than menopause. A family history of hip fractures, low body weight, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, rheumatoid arthritis, long-term use of certain medications and experiencing early menopause can all play a role.
This is why menopause healthcare isn’t simply about treating the symptoms, it’s about having a bigger conversation about your future health.
If you’re entering perimenopause or menopause, a Grace Private Women’s Health GP can help assess your individual health and discuss whether further investigation or treatment is needed.
Thankfully, you don’t have to turn your life upside down to take care of your bones.
Start with strength. Weight-bearing and resistance exercise can help maintain bone strength while also building muscle, improving balance and reducing your risk of falls.
Give your bones what they need. Calcium is an important building block for healthy bones, while vitamin D helps your body absorb it. A balanced diet, appropriate sun exposure and individual advice from a health professional can help make sure you’re getting what you need.
Look at the bigger picture. Smoking, excessive alcohol intake, low body weight and some health conditions can affect bone health, so this is about more than adding a calcium-rich yoghurt to breakfast and calling it a day.
Grace Private also offers an integrated approach to women’s healthcare, including access to dietetics, physiotherapy and psychological support alongside medical care.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) can be used to manage a range of menopausal symptoms and can also help prevent bone loss and fractures in some individuals.
But menopause treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Whether MHT is right for you depends on your symptoms, medical history, risk factors and preferences, which is exactly why the conversation is worth having with a healthcare professional rather than relying on what worked for your friend, sister or someone on TikTok.
Read more about perimenopause and menopause management at Grace Private.
The bottom line? Start thinking about your bones earlier than you think.
Menopause isn’t just about getting through hot flushes or figuring out why you’re suddenly wide awake at 3am. It’s a major health transition, and a useful moment to think about how you want to feel in your 60s, 70s and beyond.
Strong bones are a big part of that picture.
If you’re experiencing perimenopause or menopause, or simply want to understand your bone health and individual risk factors, Grace Private’s Women’s Health GPs can help you work out what care makes sense for you.
Ready to start the conversation? Request an appointment with Grace Private and take a proactive approach to your health through menopause and beyond.
