Women's Integrated Healthcare, P.A. | Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Importance of Bone Mineral Density Testing

With age, the body breaks down bone tissue more rapidly than it rebuilds it, which results in fragile bones. Osteopenia, the natural thinning of bones due to calcium loss, can eventually lead to osteoporosis, a condition that affects more females than males. Talk to your doctor or gynecologist about a bone mineral density test to measure the strength or thinness of your bones. Because bone loss has no symptoms, many women may not realize they are vulnerable until they experience a fracture.

1. What is a bone mineral density scan? As the name implies, a bone mineral density scan measures the density of your bones using x-rays. Healthy, dense bones absorb more of the rays, while thinner, porous bones allow more rays to pass through. Because they are most likely to break, the spine and hip bones will be scanned; your doctor may also evaluate the density of your wrist and hand bones.
2. What kinds of technologies does this scan use? Bone mineral density scans use very low concentrations of radiation, roughly the same amount you would be exposed to during a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is the most commonly-used form of radiation to measure bone density. Unlike some other methods, it can measure denser bones in the hip and spine.
3. How are bone density scans measured? There are two metrics used to evaluate a bone density scan: a T score and a Z score. The T score is the comparison of a patient’s bone density to that of an average 30-year-old woman. This indicates how much bone has been lost over the years. Scores are expressed as deviations from this average, with negative numbers indicating thinner bones and positive scores indicating denser bones. The Z score additionally measures bone density by comparing your score to that of other people your age. This score tells a patient how he or she fares against the average bone density measurement for his or her age group.

At Women’s Integrated Healthcare, we combine the latest in technology in obstetrics and gynecology with compassionate care for women throughout the Grapevine, Keller, and Alliance areas. For more information about the ob-gyn services and care we provide, please visit us online or call us today at (888) 870-5671.

Our patients come to us from around the DFW metroplex, including Grapevine, Keller, Alliance, Southlake, Highland Village, Lewisville, Irving, HEB, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and the surrounding areas.

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