[ Talking to Your Doctor ]  [ Bone Mineral Density Test ]  
[ Should You Be Tested? ]

A diagnosis of postmenopausal osteoporosis can feel discouraging. But a positive, can-do attitude can go a long way toward helping you to continue to live an active and healthy lifestyle. Here's a good way to start: talk to your doctor about your health and about what you can do to help keep your bones healthy.

Talking to Your Doctor

It's important that knowledge about your health comes from a trusted source. The Surgeon General recommends discussing the following topics about your bone health with your doctor or other healthcare provider.

Questions to ask at your next visit:

• Could I be at risk for bone disease?
• Should I have a bone density test?
• Which physical activities are best for me?
• Should I have my vision checked? (Yearly vision checks can help prevent bone-breaking falls)
• Are there any changes I should make to my diet? Am I getting enough calcium and vitamin D?

Other topics you should bring up:

• Tell your doctor about any fall, even if you were not hurt, and about any broken bones you've had. Postmenopausal women over the age of 50 who have fallen may need a full evaluation to assess vision, balance, walking, muscle strength, heart function, and blood pressure.
• Tell your doctor and dentist about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Certain medicines may affect how BONIVA works. Especially tell your doctor if you take antacids, aspirin, or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) medicines.

Once you've thoroughly discussed your bone health with your healthcare provider, together you can determine any actions you'll need to take to help keep your bones strong.

Bone Mineral Density Test

To help diagnose osteoporosis, a doctor may first conduct a full exam, and then order a specialized test known as a bone mineral density (BMD) test. A BMD test is a test used to measure the density of your bones. A BMD test can:

• Detect low bone density before a fracture occurs
• Predict your risk of a fracture in the future
• Evaluate your response to treatment

The result of your BMD test is called your T-score. A T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30-year-old. It also determines your risk for breaking a bone.

What your T-score means:

• Normal: T-score is greater than -1
• Osteopenia: T-score is between -1 and -2.5
• Osteoporosis: T-score is less than or equal to
  -2.5

Should You Be Tested?

Your risk for postmenopausal osteoporosis increases with age. If you have any additional risk factors, it's even more important to get tested as you grow older. Ask your healthcare provider if and how often you should have a BMD test.

Learn more about risk factors for postmenopausal osteoporosis.