The silent menopause symptom

It affects more than half of our women over the age of 60, yet few can name this condition.

- WORDS by ASHLEIGH AUSTEN

For many, menopause brings hot flushes, brain fog and restless nights. But there's another lesser-known concern that can sneak up without warning: low bone density.

Osteopenia, or a gradual decline in bone mass and strength, is estimated to affect more than 600,000 New Zealanders and can lead to osteoporosis, a disease where bones become porous, brittle, and more prone to fractures. You won't feel your bones weakening, which is why it's often referred to as a "silent disease", with many of us not realising it's even happening.

"A lot of women think 'I'm young and don't need to think about bone health yet', or 'only older women need to worry about bone health', but it's just not true," says pharmacist Melissa Gannon.

While bone density naturally peaks in our late 20s to early 30s, it begins a slow decline from around the age of 35. This decline becomes far steeper in the years after menopause, due to declining levels of oestrogen, a hormone that plays a key role in maintaining strong bones.

When oestrogen levels drop during menopause, the balance shifts - bone is broken down faster than it can be rebuilt. Women can lose up to 20 per cent of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause.