Did you know that In the 5-7 years following menopause, a woman may lose up to 20% of her bone density? With 1 in 3 women aged 50+ worldwide experiencing an osteoporosis fracture in her lifetime, bone loss is an urgent, and often overlooked, dimension of women’s health and menopause. Beyond hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disruptions we know so well, our changing bones deserve much more attention.
At our core, Attn: Grace is dedicated to transforming the conversation about every part of the menopause experience, including the ones you don’t often hear about. As a brand focused on bladder leaks and pelvic health, we see bone health as part of a broader, holistic look at the aging body. Because when one system changes, others often follow.
So let’s talk about bones, and how you can protect yours for the long run.
The Bone-Estrogen Connection
Bone is living tissue. It's continuously being broken down and rebuilt in a process governed by your hormones. Until most women are in their early 30s, our bodies build more bone than they lose. After that, things start to even out, and by the time menopause arrives, we’re losing bone mass faster than our body is replacing it.
The reason? Estrogen. Just one more reminder that estrogen truly is the queen of the hormones, affecting organs systems far beyond just reproduction. Estrogen plays a major role in maintaining bone density because it slows the breakdown of old bone and encourages the formation of new bone. When estrogen levels drop sharply during perimenopause and menopause, that protection fades.
This decline in estrogen over time is what puts postmenopausal women at a higher risk for osteopenia (low bone mass) and osteoporosis, a condition where bones become fragile and more likely to break.
Why Does Osteoporosis Matter?
Osteoporosis isn’t a chronic condition that causes ongoing pain or symptoms. Instead, it’s a sneaky risk factor that can lead to bone breaks that threaten our health, quality of life, and independence. Common fracture sites include the hip, spine, and wrist, and recovery can be long and difficult. Hip fractures in particular can lead to decreased mobility, independence, and quality of life, and 75% of them occur in women.
On the flip side, we don’t have to take osteoporosis lying down. There are strategies to slow, stop, or even reverse bone loss including:
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Getting enough calcium and vitamin D: Calcium is essential for building bone, and Vitamin D helps your body absorb it. Recommendations say that women over 50 should aim for ~1200 mg of calcium per day (from diet or supplements) and 800–1000 IU of vitamin D daily. You can get these from your diet through foods such as dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds. Vitamin D comes from sunlight, but many people need supplements.
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Do weight-bearing exercise: It turns out, bones like to be stressed. Activities like walking, hiking, strength training, dancing, and yoga stimulate bone growth, add strength, and improve balance, which reduces fall risk. (Talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise program to make sure you’re safe.)
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Limit alcohol and stop smoking: Smoking and heavy alcohol use are both linked to faster bone loss.
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Evaluate your personal risk factors: Factors like family history, your lifestyle, body weight, timing of menopause, medications, and autoimmune conditions can all impact your personal risk. A DEXA scan can measure bone density and provide additional information about your bone density.
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Consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT): HRT has a complicated history with menopause. At one time a normalized regimen for all women after menopause, a study in the 1990s introduced new concerns about the risks. Today, additional data tells a more nuanced store. While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to using HRT to replace estrogen and help mitigate post-menopausal bone loss, it is a safe therapy of choice for many women. There are even renewed calls from healthcare professionals to remove the severe “black box” warnings that are on HRT therapies for menopause, which they say overstate the risks. Attn: Grace medical director, Dr. Barbara Frank, puts it simply: “Alongside the risks for some people, HRT also has a ton of potential benefits.”
The risk of taking HRT is based on your personal medical history, so Dr. Frank emphasizes the importance of having a detailed conversation with your provider. Don’t have a great doc right now? Explore our directory.
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Pay attention to any changing symptoms: Losing height, feeling back pain, or getting fractures (especially from a minor fall or impact) could all be signs of bone loss that shouldn’t be ignored. Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you are noticing indications like these.
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Explore your options: Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the medications available to combat osteoporosis, including and beyond hormone replacement therapy.
The Importance of Aging Well
Your changing bones, bladder, skin and hormones are all part of the same story. Menopause is not a single event, but a long transition with effects throughout your body. While we’re here to support you through bladder leaks with our non-irritating pads in your perfect absorbency, the conversation doesn’t end in the ladies’ room.
We believe that aging doesn’t mean losing strength. It means redefining it. And that includes making empowered choices about nutrition, movement, and preventive care. So whether you're doing your kegels, lifting weights, taking on a new skincare ritual, or just adding more greens to your plate, we applaud you for taking small steps to build a stronger foundation.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This content is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.