Bone Loss Starts Before Menopause. Here's Why It Matters
In this educational monologue, Dr. Betty Murray explains that recent research shows bone loss accelerates 3–4 years before the actual onset of menopause. She highlights a critical gap: there are no reliable laboratory tests or clear symptoms to pinpoint a woman’s position within this pre‑menopausal window, making it difficult for clinicians to intervene early. Dr. Murray argues that the traditional practice of waiting until after menopause to order DXA scans or start treatment is outdated and potentially harmful. She urges clinicians to consider earlier screening and to view subtle shifts in energy, sleep, and mood—often appearing in a woman’s late 30s—as early hallmarks of perimenopause that may signal the impending period of accelerated bone loss. The overall message is a call to move away from a one‑size‑fits‑all, post‑menopause approach toward proactive, individualized assessment and management of bone health during the perimenopausal transition.
