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Men and Osteoporosis

Being Male Isn't an Osteoporosis Defense

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Most people consider osteoporosis a woman's disease. That's not completely off base because the majority of osteoporosis cases affect women. However, out of the 10 million Americans who have the disease, 2 million of them are men. That's 20%.

Millions of men have osteopenia, which is a decrease in bone mass but not to the extent that it's osteoporosis. This does, however, mean they're at risk of developing osteoporosis as they age.

If you still believe osteoporosis only affects women, consider these facts from the National Osteoporosis Foundation:

  • Twelve million American men over the age of 50 are at risk for developing osteoporosis.
  • Approximately 80,000 men fracture a hip annually due to osteoporosis.
  • Hip fractures are more serious in men than in women—men are more likely to die within a year if they have one.
  • Approximately 25% of men over the age of 50 are at risk for an osteoporosis-related fracture.
  • Men tend to develop spinal fractures at a later age than women; the older you are when you get a fracture, the more difficult it is to recover.

There are many biological factors that make women more susceptible to osteoporosis. These include menopause and low estrogen levels, and smaller bones. Women also tend to live longer, thus giving them more years to develop weakened bones. But men are not immune to the disease. Once a man reaches age 50, certain risk factors greatly increase his chances of developing osteoporosis.

Below are some common osteoporosis causes and risk factors:

  • Using certain medications, especially steroids
  • Having an inactive lifestyle
  • Smoking and consuming large amounts of alcohol
  • Having low testosterone levels (just as estrogen protects women's bones, testosterone protects men's bones)
  • Other medical conditions, such as prostate cancer or rheumatoid arthritis
  • A family history of osteoporosis and/or personal history of fractures

Osteoporosis affects millions of people—men and women. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your gender protects you from developing osteoporosis—it doesn't. If you believe you're at risk for developing osteoporosis, it's important to talk to your doctor. He or she will test your bone mineral density (BMD) to determine if a course of treatment is necessary.

You can also take our osteoporosis risk quiz. The earlier you understand your risk, the greater the chance you'll prevent fractures later on.



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Updated on: 12/10/09
Isador H. Lieberman, MD, MBA, FRCSC
The osteoporosis epidemic is upon us. All those who led a sedentary lifestyle, did not pay attention to adequate calcium intake, and who smoked in their teen and adult years over the 1960?s, 1970?s and 1980?s, will experience some form of osteoporosis related consequences. As the above article outlines, men are no exception. The good news though is that there are ways to avoid osteoporosis and the related consequences by very simple means. Along with motherhood and apple pie, regular exercise, appropriate calcium and vitamin D supplementation, and cessation of smoking, will go a long way to turning the epidemic tide.
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