Osteoporosis and bone health

Osteoporosis means weak bone at risk for breaking with a fall from a standing height or less force (called a fragility fracture). Normal bones should not break with that little force. Menstrual cycles that begin around age 12 or 13 and are regular about a month apart provide estrogen that women need to maintain bone health. Hopefully we also know that exercise and strong muscles are needed for bone health. Most of us know that calcium is necessary to build and maintain strong bones and some of us also know that vitamin D is needed, too for healthy bones. CeMCOR scientists have shown that progesterone and normal ovulation during our menstruating years are necessary to prevent bone loss. Further, CeMCOR scientists have shown that cyclic progestin (a synthetic cousin of progesterone ) causes bone gain in a randomized controlled trial in otherwise healthy young women without regular periods (amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea) or with regular cycles but don't ovulate normally (anovulation or short luteal phase cycles). Those who got the placebo treatment lost two percent of spinal bone in one year. Progestin or progesterone likely also causes more bone gain when given to menopausal with osteoporosis along with a bone-loss preventing medicine such as a bisphosphonate.

It is important to think of good general health, healthy nutrition and exercise as well as normal estrogen and progesterone when working to gain and keep healthy and strong bones.