Screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is an area of increasing concern to the gynecologist. Fractures will develop in approximately 15% to 25% of women in their later years and preventive therapy is best aimed specifically at this group. Predicting who will be the ones to sustain fracture is a difficult and imprecise clinical task. The clinical, laboratory, and radiologic methods available for this purpose are reviewed. A rational approach to this problem in today's setting is outlined.