Preparing for an appointment

Your doctor might suggest bone density testing. Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for all women over age 65. Some guidelines also recommend screening men by age 70, especially if they have health issues likely to cause osteoporosis. If you have a broken bone after a minor force injury, such as a simple fall, bone density testing may be important to assess your risk of more fractures.

If the test results show very low bone density or you have other complex health issues, you might be referred to a doctor who specializes in metabolic disorders (endocrinologist) or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints, muscles or bones (rheumatologist).

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

• Write down symptoms you've noticed, though it's possible you may not have any.
• Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you take or have taken, including doses. It's especially helpful if you record the type and dose of calcium and vitamin D supplements, because many different preparations are available. If you're not sure what information your doctor might need, take the bottles with you or take a picture of the label with your smartphone and share it with your doctor.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For osteoporosis, basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Do I need to be screened for osteoporosis?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• What side effects might I expect from treatment?
• Are there alternatives to the treatment you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Do I need to restrict my activities?
• Do I need to change my diet?
• Do I need to take supplements?
• Is there a physical therapy program that would benefit me?
• What can I do to prevent falls?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Have you broken bones?
• Have you gotten shorter?
• How is your diet, especially your dairy intake? Do you think you get enough calcium? Vitamin D?
• How often do you exercise? What type of exercise do you do?
• How is your balance? Have you fallen?
• Do you have a family history of osteoporosis?
• Has a parent broken a hip?
• Have you ever had stomach or intestinal surgery?
• Have you taken corticosteroid medications (prednisone, cortisone) as pills, injections or creams?