Why Does Menopause Affect Bones?

It’s an experience common to the majority of women. Hitting your thirties or forties and feeling the societal pressure that “the clock is ticking” or that you’ll soon be “over the hill”. Thankfully, we are living in an era where therapies have greatly benefited women’s wellness and hormonal health. Today the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada states that 95% of women experience menopause after the age of 45.

How menopause causes bone density loss

Menopause is the point in a woman’s life where she has not experienced her period in 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause is the period of time when a woman’s hormone levels begin to fall, and she experiences menopausal symptoms. As each individual woman differs, the perimenopause period may last a few months or many years. During this time, she may notice that her monthly cycle has changed. Also, the number of eggs stored in her ovaries has decreased.

Menopause causes many changes in the body through fluctuating hormone levels. Estrogen handles regulating your metabolism. The decreased production of estrogen during menopause has the ability to affect women’s wellbeing. The falling levels of estrogen leave bone cells (osteocytes, osteoclasts, and osteoblasts) unprotected from experiencing bone loss and cannot repair and replace themselves. This bone-thinning increases a woman’s risk of developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone cannot keep up with the loss of old bone. As a result, osteogenic bones become more porous and less dense. These bones also start to resemble a honeycomb. Unfortunately, the “honeycomb” structure of these porous bones is more brittle and prone to breaking from a fall. The current statistic predicts at least 1 in 3 women will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture.

Ways to prevent bone loss caused by osteoporosis

Thankfully, there are many preventative measures that you can take to slow bone loss and related fractures. For example, examining your diet and exercise regimes. Calcium is a primary building block of bone; be sure to include plenty of calcium-rich foods in your diet. Consider adding a Vitamin D supplement to your routine. Vitamin D plays a vital role in your body’s ability to absorb calcium. Add weight-bearing exercises and gentle strength training into your routine. Weights help by putting stress on the body, which in turn triggers cells to build more bone.

At BioStrong we can help reverse the effects of osteoporosis. We can help protect your musculoskeletal system during the hormonal changes of menopause. We are the only skeletal health centre providing bioDensity™ devices in the city of Calgary. We are also clinically proven to provide the best results in bone and strength growth. Without drugs or hard exercises, osteogenic loading stimulates the body’s natural ability to rebuild bones. It also helps strengthen the entire musculoskeletal system. Our simple exercises help to trigger mineral absorption into the bones. The exercises also help reclaim the “honeycomb” shape of lost density and reduce the effects of osteoporosis. No matter your age or menopausal stage, BioStrong technology can help your body grow stronger and prevent bone fractures. Book your free session today!