Why Does Osteoporosis Affect More Women Than Men

Question

Why does osteoporosis affect more women than men?
A) Women typically do not get enough calcium in their diet.
B) Men do not remodel the skeleton as fast as women.
C) Pregnancy causes deossification of bones in women and will lead to osteoporosis.
D) Men exercise more than women and therefore have less osteoporosis.
E) Women have a decrease in sex hormones after menopause.

Accepted Answer

The decrease in sex hormones after menopause, particularly estrogen, plays a major role in the development of osteoporosis in women. Estrogen helps to maintain bone density and when levels decrease during and after menopause, bone loss can occur more rapidly. This is why osteoporosis is more common in postmenopausal women than men, who do not experience the same decline in sex hormone levels.