primary / idiopathic causes
Last reviewed 01/2018
Primary osteoporosis is classified as:
- age-related or senile:
- occurs in elderly men and women, around the seventh or eighth decade
- associated with a steady rate of bone loss of about 0.5% per year
- post-menopausal:
- lack of oestrogen reduces osteoblastic activity
- increased bone resorption as osteoclast action is no longer balanced
- not related to age:
- idiopathic juvenile or young adult onset
- osteoporosis of pregnancy