Menopause can lead to bone loss and fractures, says doctor

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when she stops having her period. This stage can really affect bone health. A doctor has said that it can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures because of lower oestrogen levels.

Even though menopause is a serious health matter, it is often ignored in Nigeria's discussions about sexual and reproductive health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that menopause happens when a woman's menstrual periods stop for good. This is due to lower oestrogen levels and the ovaries not working as they used to. Because of this, the ovaries do not release eggs anymore, so natural conception is not possible.

Some common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, pain during sex, urinary problems, trouble sleeping, mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause and lasts until one year after the last period. Postmenopause starts after a woman has not had her period for 12 months.

In Nigeria, women usually reach menopause around age 48 and older as part of getting older.

Menopause and bone health

In an interview with PT Health Watch, Qudus Lawal, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, explained that menopause changes hormone levels. This can lead to more bone breakdown and less bone formation.

He said that almost all women will lose some bone after menopause due to lower oestrogen levels. But not all women will get osteoporosis or have fractures.

Mr Lawal noted that the strength of a woman's bones before menopause is very important. It can affect her risk of osteoporosis later on.

Using a money analogy, he said that bone health is like balancing deposits and withdrawals. "The stronger the bone density a woman builds before menopause, the better protected she is against the accelerated loss that occurs afterwards," he explained.

Why bone loss increases after menopause

Mr Lawal further explained that oestrogen usually keeps osteoclasts in check. These are the cells that break down bone tissue.

When oestrogen levels drop after menopause, these cells become more active. At the same time, osteoblasts, which build new bone, cannot keep up. This imbalance weakens bones over time and raises the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Maintaining healthy bones after menopause

To keep bones healthy after menopause, Mr Lawal suggested good nutrition, regular exercise, and preventive healthcare. He told women to eat balanced diets that are high in calcium and vitamin D. They should also do weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises and take steps to avoid falls.

"When you take foods and supplements that are rich in those essential nutrients, it helps build the bone," he said.

He stressed the need for early action, noting that bone loss often happens without any symptoms. People might not realize it until they face complications.

"One way people notice is that they get shorter. Normally, after puberty, you should not get shorter. But many of our mothers start to lose height over time. This can be due to age-related spinal degeneration and bone loss," he said.

Mr Lawal pointed out that many women find out about serious bone loss only after they get fractures. "The fracture can happen from a fall, or even a small push that normally wouldn’t cause pain. Just a little trip in the bathroom could lead to a major fracture," he added.

He mentioned that in some countries, bone density screening is part of regular health checks for postmenopausal women. This helps find those at high risk early.

Mr Lawal urged women to live healthy lives and take care of their bones long before menopause. He believes that the aim should be to help women build and keep strong bone density before menopause to lessen the effects of hormonal changes later.