Check whether a bone scan is due
Identifying osteoporosis can lead to treatment that lowers fracture risk and protects independence.
The number, drawn
Why it matters
Osteoporosis weakens bones, often without symptoms until a fracture occurs. In 2025 the USPSTF reaffirmed screening for women aged 65 and older and for younger postmenopausal women at increased risk. A DXA scan and clinical risk assessment help decide whether treatment is worthwhile.
How to do it
- If you are a woman aged 65 or older, ask about osteoporosis screening.
- Ask earlier after menopause if you have low body weight, a parent with hip fracture or other risk factors.
- Bring details of previous fractures and medicines, especially prolonged steroid treatment.
- Review the scan and fracture risk together with a clinician, then agree on any treatment and follow-up.
Prior fragility fractures, steroid use and other bone diseases require clinical assessment rather than routine screening rules. Evidence is insufficient for universal screening in men; individual risk still matters.
Do it
Pick the time you have. Anything beats nothing.
Start with the time you have
1 minute
Recall any fracture after a small fall and whether a parent broke a hip; these details help a clinician assess your bones.
5 minutes
Ask your clinic whether your age, menopause history, fractures or medicines warrant a bone health review.
15 minutes
Prepare a short history of fractures, menopause if relevant, family hip fractures and steroid medicines for your appointment.
A plan
Assess risk before choosing treatment
- Gather the history and medicines that may affect your bones.
- Ask a clinician whether you need a fracture risk assessment or DXA scan.
- If a scan is recommended, book it and discuss the result alongside your other risk factors.
- Agree on any treatment and follow-up with the clinician.
In real life
- Mention a fracture from a small fall, even if it healed long ago.
- Bring details of prolonged steroid treatment and whether a parent broke a hip.
Watch out for
- Common mistakeA scan number is only part of fracture risk, so review it with your history and medicines.
- Common mistakeA fracture after a minor injury needs clinical review, so do not wait until a routine screening age.
Trusted guides
In Czechia
In Czechia, women up to 59 within a year after menopause and men aged 65 to 69 get a FRAX assessment from their GP or gynaecologist at the preventive check, with a density scan if osteoporosis is suspected. Women from 60 and men from 70 get a density scan as part of the check.
In the Netherlands, a bone scan is advised from 50 after a broken bone or collapsed vertebra, from 40 if you take anti-inflammatory medicines for 3 months or longer or prednisone 4 or more times a year, and from 60 if your doctor judges your fracture risk higher.
Check usSources
- Evidence grade
- A Meta-analyses of randomised trials, or a major guideline consensus.
- Basis
- USPSTF 2025 evidence review and screening recommendation, with NHS scan guidance
- The number
- Screen women from age 65 for osteoporosis (USPSTF, 2025)
- Outcome
- US routine osteoporosis screening starting age for women
- Comparison
- USPSTF recommendation; earlier assessment for higher risk women
- Tier 1 guidelineOsteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: ScreeningUSPSTF, 2025
- Tier 1 guidelineBone density scan: When it is usedNHS, 2022
General health information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Personalization changes the order of suggestions; it does not assess your medical risks. Follow the cautions and consult a qualified clinician when needed.