What it is
Osteoporosis means bones have become thin and weak enough to break easily, often from a minor fall. Bone is living tissue that is constantly broken down and rebuilt; as you age, bone loss happens faster and new bone forms more slowly.[1]
Bone mass is gained during growth and typically peaks in one's 20s; peak bone mass is generally higher in men than in women. Bone loss is typically slower in men, partly because women lose oestrogen at menopause — but older men are still at risk.[2] The hip, spine and wrist are classic fragility-fracture sites.[1]
Bone density is measured by DXA. The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation advises men 70+, men 50–69 with risk factors, and anyone with a fracture after 50 to discuss testing; USPSTF (2025) found insufficient evidence to assess screening in men (I statement), which is not a recommendation against it.[3][4]
Open the hip and spine at age 70 — the timeline marks the common fracture sites (illustration).
See it in 3DWhat happens with age
Osteoporosis affects some men especially from 65, and being 70 or older is a risk factor.[2] In the Explorer's age timeline, bones pale and the hip, spine and wrist fracture sites are marked from 65 — an illustration, not a prediction.
Causes and risk factors
Things you can't change
Things you can change
Symptoms worth reporting to a doctor
- Usually none until a bone breaks
- A broken bone from a minor fall
- Loss of height or a stooped posture (from spine fractures)
That's why testing and prevention matter.[1]
Screening: who, when and how
Two views, stated plainly: the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation advises men aged 70 and older, men 50–69 with risk factors, and anyone who broke a bone after 50 to talk with their clinician about a bone density test.[3] The US Preventive Services Task Force (2025) found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against screening men — and notes this is not a recommendation against it.[4]
How it's diagnosed
Types of treatment
- Lifestyle. Calcium and vitamin D in the diet, weight-bearing exercise, not smoking and drinking in moderation.[2]
- Medicines. Several medicines can slow bone loss or build bone; your clinician will discuss whether you need one.[1]
Which option fits depends on the details of each person’s situation. Your care team decides with you.
What you can do
Train strength and balance
Muscle-strengthening on 2 days a week; for older adults, activity lowers the risk of falls and fall injuries.[5]
Questions to ask your doctor
- Given my age and risk factors, should I have a bone density scan?
- Could any of my medicines be thinning my bones?
- Should my testosterone or vitamin D be checked?
- What exercises are safe and useful for my bones?
Myth vs. fact
Related topics
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
A bulge in the body's main artery that usually causes no symptoms. Men 65–75 who have ever smoked should have a one-time ultrasound.
Low testosterone (hypogonadism)
Testosterone falls only slowly with age. Real hypogonadism needs symptoms plus two low morning blood tests — and treatment isn't right for everyone.
Sources
- NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteoporosis. Checked 23 October 2026.
- NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Osteoporosis in Men. Checked 23 October 2026.
- Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation. Bone Density Exam/Testing. Checked 23 October 2026.
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening (January 2025). Checked 23 October 2026.
- US Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Top 10 Things to Know. Checked 23 October 2026.
The owner of this website is not a doctor. Human Atlas provides educational anatomy information and does not diagnose, stage, or treat disease. Talk to a qualified clinician about anything concerning your own health.