06/15/2026
I got my baseline bone density scan today (NE Breast Center is top level BTW).
And after talking with the physicians there, we all agreed on one thing:
65 is too late.
Current guidelines recommend routine bone density screening at age 65 for most women. But by then, many women have already spent years losing bone mass as estrogen levels decline. This is not PREVENTION.
In my opinion, and increasingly among many clinicians who care for women in midlife, the conversation should start much earlier.
I would love to see a baseline DEXA scan become standard during perimenopause, if we had to put an age, 45, but really it should be when hormonal changes begin to accelerate and before significant bone loss has occurred.
Why?
Because you can’t change what you don’t measure AND many people don’t even understand their risk.
A baseline gives you valuable information about where you are starting, your future fracture risk, and whether you need to be more proactive with strength training, nutrition, hormone discussions, or other interventions. Sometimes the numbers can be motivating to help before there is a major problem.
The reality is that many women don’t discover they have low bone density until after a fracture. By then, we’re playing catch-up.
The good news? A DEXA scan is quick, easy, and surprisingly affordable.
You do need an MD order (perimenopause can be the diagnosis), but if insurance doesn’t cover it, the cost is often much lower than people expect. Around $75 at this center and about $125 at many local facilities.
And can we talk about the experience?
The New England Breast Center was wonderful. It honestly felt more like a spa than a medical office (minus the massage). Warm, welcoming, efficient, and focused on women’s health.
Even better, I discovered that I know one of the physicians there. We’ve spent many hours together at baseball fields over the years, and she’s exactly the kind of woman helping move healthcare forward, thoughtful, evidence-based, and focused on prevention instead of waiting for problems to happen.
If you’re in your 40s or navigating hormonal shifts, have a conversation with your provider about your bone health! NOW!
