The essentials

If you have osteoporosis, your bones are weak and can break easily. More women than men get this condition. If you break a bone in your spine, hip, or wrist after going through the menopause, osteoporosis is the most likely cause.

Osteoporosis can have serious effects on your health and your life. But there are some good treatments that slow down the disease and help stop you breaking bones. There are also treatments that lower your chances of getting osteoporosis if you are especially likely to get it.

We've brought together the best research about osteoporosis and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it and how to prevent it. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

In Brief