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Print ArticleOsteoporosis Health Center
Symptoms & Types
Osteoporosis often starts silently and may not be found until a bone fractures. But sometimes, symptoms appear. Learn about the types and symptoms of osteoporosis.
Symptoms
Osteoporosis can be a silent disease, but many patients suffer symptoms such as pain and height loss. Read a brief description of osteoporosis symptoms.
Sudden, severe back pain, especially in older women, often signifies a spinal compression fracture -- a sign of weak bones. So get that back pain checked out.
Warning Signs
Many people have thinned bones and don’t know it. Osteopenia is mildly thin bones that are heading towards osteoporosis. Learn more about how osteopenia is detected and treated.
Types
Osteoporosis rarely affects children. But when it does, it’s usually due to a medical condition or medication. It’s a significant problem because it occurs during the child’s prime bone-building years. Those rare cases are called juvenile osteoporosis. Read about it in this brief article.
Complications
Bone fractures caused by osteoporosis can be very painful, and sometimes the pain and disability lasts for months. Physical activity helps contribute to bone health. Read article on handling chronic pain.
Hip fractures can make it a lot harder to walk, get around, and lead an independent life. People with these fractures may not recover for months and often cannot care for themselves. Learn more about the dangers of weak bones and how to prevent them.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
Taking Vitamin D and Calcium Together
Osteoporosis specialist Dr. Ethel Siris on why it's so important to take calcium with Vitamin D.
