Who Should Have a BMD Test?
There are some reasons (called risk factors) that increase your likelihood of developing osteoporosis. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to get osteoporosis and broken bones. Some examples are being small and thin, older age, being female, a diet low in calcium, lack of enough vitamin D, smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Your healthcare provider may recommend a BMD test if you are: • A postmenopausal woman under age 65 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis • A man age 50-70 with one or more risk factors for osteoporosis • A woman age 65 or older, even without any risk factors • A man age 70 or older, even without any risk factors • A woman or man after age 50 who has broken a bone • A woman going through menopause with certain risk factors • A postmenopausal woman who has stopped taking estrogen therapy (ET) or hormone therapy (HT) Some other reasons your healthcare provider may recommend a BMD test: • Long-term use of certain medications including s
