Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Women

peer reviewedPostmenopausal osteoporosis is now considered a major public health problem in aging women, due to the burden related to the consequent fractures. Over recent years, several pharmacological approaches were developed for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Besides regular physical exercise and calcium rich diet, calcium supplementation can be suggested to both genders, after seventy years as well as systematic vitamin D supplementation in order to cope with the frequent lack observed in our country. Hormone replacement therapy is the first choice in prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Based on a careful evaluation of the needs of a postmenopausal woman as well as on the risk/benefit ratio derived from her individual risk factors, selective estrogen receptor modulators (raloxifene) or second generation bisphosphonates (alendronate) can be considered as alternative to estrogens. Due to its prohibitive cost, nasal calcitonin should be only considered for very specific cases. In osteoporosis confirmed by bone densitometry or by occurrence of fractures, bisphosphonate (alendronate) reduces subsequent fracture rate. Fluoride salts can, in some cases, improve spinal symptomatic osteoporosis. The use of etidronate, a molecule from the past, should be avoided as much as possible and, at any rate, strictly restricted to its legal indication including women with several vertebral crush fractures and severely decreased bone mineral density