11/06/2026
Bone loss during menopause is one of the most clinically significant changes women face, yet it occurs without any symptoms until a fracture happens.
The average woman loses up to 10% of her bone mass in the first five years after menopause. Data from Healthy Bones Australia suggest that 27% of women aged 60 and over are osteoporotic and 51% are osteopaenic.
Weight-bearing exercise, adequate dietary calcium (1300mg daily for women over 50), and sufficient vitamin D all play a role in supporting bone density. A conversation with your doctor about your individual risk is a worthwhile starting point.
Dr Dalia Ubied
MBCHB, FRACGP, FACCSM(MED), DCH, FPAA
This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.
Source: Australasian Menopause Society. Osteoporosis information sheet. menopause.org.au; Healthy Bones Australia. Menopause and Bone Health fact sheet. 2024.