[Postmenopausal osteoporosis: how to detect women-at-risk?]

An increasing risk to fall with aging and postmenopausal bone loss are the two major determinants of osteoporotic fractures. Selective prevention of osteoporosis with estrogens only in women "at risk" is based upon evaluation in the early postmenopause of bone mass and potentially of bone loss (fast losers). In 75% of women, this evaluation cannot be properly done clinically; therefore measurements of bone mineral content with mineralometry and of some biochemical parameters should be carried out.