Menopause, osteoporosis, complementary integrated diagnosis: review of literature

Menopause, caused by the definitive cessation of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian function, is characterized by a severe symptomatology which concerns metabolic psycological and sexual functions. We focused our attention on the role of estrogen deficienty in the etiophatogenesis of post-menopausal osteoporosis, considering how the loss of bone mass, which primarily interests the trabecular tissue as it directley influences bone resistance and density. In the BMD (Body Mass Density) evaluation, we used DXA (Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) (on the lombosacral segment), which is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and ultrasonic bone densitometry (on the calcaneus). It is an inexpensive technique, faster, without risks and has proven accuracy and reliability comparable to the methods that use ionizing radiations.