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Most women go through menopause at about the age of 50. When this happens, your ovaries stop making the hormone called estrogen. Estrogen helps to keep your bones strong. This is because it slows down the cells that break down old bone in your body.¹ Those cells are called osteoclasts.

When your body stops making estrogen, your bone is broken down faster for between five years and eight years afterward.² Then your body gets used to not having the estrogen. The breakdown process slows down again.

This rapid breakdown of your bones happens whenever you have menopause. So if menopause comes early (before age 45), you can get osteoporosis at a young age.³ And if it comes later than average, your bones stay strong for longer.

If you are very thin and have small bones, you are more likely to get osteoporosis right after you go through menopause.²

Because estrogen keeps your bones strong, your bones will get weaker if your body stops making estrogen for any reason. This can happen if you have surgery to take out your ovaries. It can also happen if you stop having periods for six months or more (not including pregnancy or menopause). You can stop having periods if you eat too little or if you exercise too much. In these cases, your doctor may offer you drug treatment to replace the missing estrogen.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.