Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease and affects about 54 million Americans. The risk of osteoporosis increases with age and is especially high for menopausal and post-menopausal women. One in two women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Many women do not know they have the condition until they experience a fracture – usually in the hip, spine, or wrist. Taking preventative measures to avoid osteoporosis is important, since it is difficult to treat once it has advanced.

Preventing Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis prevention starts with lifestyle changes including diet and exercise. Bone loss occurs naturally with age starting as early as your 20s and early preventative measures can reduce the risk of developing bone disease later. For strong, healthy bones a diet high in calcium and vitamin D is recommended as well as regular exercise with weights. These measures may not always be enough, however, once bone loss has progressed over the years.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Osteoporosis is often the result of hormonal imbalances that come with menopause. Therapies that treat those imbalances have been shown to reduce the risk of developing the condition. The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), especially with estrogens, may be an effective option for maintaining bone health for women.

HRT is the use of supplemental hormones to reduce the symptoms of hormone imbalance. Just prior to menopause (perimenopause) and throughout menopause, hormone imbalances occur in a woman’s body that can lead to decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Decreased BMD means thinner, more fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures. HRT with estrogens has been shown to increase BMD and reduce the risk of fractures

Estrogen

Estrogen hormones are available in multiple delivery methods including pills, creams, and patches. Transdermal application with a cream may help avoid some of the risks and side effects of taking an oral medication. Estrogen is compounded into a cream that can be applied with an easy-to-use topical applicator.

There are still studies being done on how long the risk of osteoporosis is decreased after estrogen therapy is discontinued. Some studies have shown that the effects on bone formation last several years while others show the effects last even longer. A doctor will work with each individual woman to develop the best HRT treatment course and determine when hormone therapy with estrogen should start.

Other Hormones and Supplements

Other hormones and supplements, like progesterone and DHEA, may also be used in combination with estrogens to achieve better outcomes.

Progesterone

Often progesterone is prescribed along with estrogen therapy to decrease the risk of estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance most often occurs naturally during perimenopause and is the result of estrogen production being higher than other hormones. This imbalance can lead to health problems and symptoms like headaches, hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, and more. It is possible progesterone on its own can improve BMD and prevents osteoporosis but this is still being studied.

DHEA

DHEA is a precursor hormone that converts to estrogens and testosterone. Lower levels of DHEA come with aging and menopause and are correlated with bone loss. Some studies have shown that DHEA can improve bone turnover in post-menopausal women. Since hormones are all connected and affect each other’s production, a doctor may prescribe multiple hormone therapies including DHEA to help prevent osteoporosis.

For More Information

The team at Park Compounding Pharmacy is available to answer your questions on our range of HRT compounds including estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA. If you are a patient looking for a provider experienced with HRT we can help you find a doctor conveniently located near you.