Osteoporosis has no symptoms until a bone breaks. A quick, painless scan can find thinning bones early, when treatment can lower the chance of a fracture.
Bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt. After menopause, and with age in general, the balance tips toward loss. Osteoporosis is the point where bones become fragile enough that a minor fall, or even a cough, can cause a fracture.
Who should be screened
In January 2025, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendation:
- Women 65 and older: screening is recommended.
- Postmenopausal women under 65 at increased risk: screening is recommended, based on a risk assessment.
- Men: the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening.
Some medical groups recommend screening men from age 70, or earlier with risk factors, so it’s worth a conversation with your clinician.
Understanding the results
A DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan measures bone density at the hip and spine and compares it with a healthy young adult’s. The result is a T-score:
| T-score | What it means |
|---|---|
| -1.0 or higher | Normal bone density |
| Between -1.0 and -2.5 | Low bone mass, sometimes called osteopenia |
| -2.5 or lower | Osteoporosis |
Treatment decisions combine your T-score with your other risk factors, often using a fracture risk calculator such as FRAX, which estimates your chance of a major fracture over ten years.
Please note
If you’ve already broken a bone in a minor fall after age 50, tell your clinician. That alone can be a sign of osteoporosis, whatever your age.
Protecting your bones
- Stay active, with weight-bearing exercise such as walking and strength training.
- Get enough calcium and vitamin D, ideally from food; ask before taking high-dose supplements.
- Don’t smoke, and keep alcohol moderate.
- Reduce fall risk at home with good lighting, secure rugs and grab bars, and get your vision checked.
- Review your medicines, since some raise fracture or fall risk.
Bone density testing is one of several screenings that start around 65; see once-in-a-lifetime screenings and our guide to the preventive checkup.
Key points
- The Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women 65 and older, and for postmenopausal women under 65 at increased risk of fractures.
- For men, the Task Force found the evidence insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening; discuss your risk with a clinician.
- A DXA scan reports a T-score: -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis, and between -1 and -2.5 indicates low bone mass.
- Weight-bearing exercise, enough calcium and vitamin D, not smoking and limiting alcohol all help protect your bones.
Common questions
Is a DXA scan painful?
No. You lie on a padded table while a scanner passes over your hip and spine. It takes a few minutes and uses a very low dose of radiation.
What raises fracture risk before 65?
Factors include a parent who broke a hip, low body weight, smoking, heavy drinking, long-term steroid use and conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Does Medicare cover bone density tests?
Medicare Part B covers a bone density test once every 24 months for people who meet certain conditions, and more often if medically necessary.
This guide explains general U.S. screening recommendations and is not medical advice. Your clinician may recommend a different schedule based on your health, history and test results.