Content intended for healthcare professionals. By continuing, you confirm you are a HCP.
Your bone health
Osteoporosis diagnosis
Diagnosis usually starts with a conversation and a simple scan. Here's what the process actually looks like, step by step.
How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
The most common method for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA): A fast, painless, non-invasive scan.
A scanner emits low levels of X-rays over your body while you lie on a padded table, measuring BMD at the sites most prone to fracture, including the hip and spine.
Alongside the BMD exam, it's important to also have your Trabecular Bone Score® (TBS®) measured. This additional measurement is essential for a complete picture of your bone health, since it captures the quality of your bone structure — something a BMD exam alone can't assess.
Getting diagnosed: Step by step
- Understand your risk: Your general practitioner will discuss your medical history, lifestyle, and any previous bone-related issues
- Clinical evaluation: During a physical exam, your provider will check for signs of bone loss, such as changes in posture or height loss
- Specialist referral: You may be referred to an endocrinologist, rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, or bone health specialist for further evaluation
- DXA exam: You'll undergo a BMD test — ideally with TBS® measured at the same time — at a facility offering TBS testing
- Blood tests: These may check calcium, vitamin D, and other markers related to bone health
- Diagnosis: Based on your results and clinical evaluation, your provider will determine whether you have osteoporosis, osteopenia, or normal bone
- Treatment plan: If diagnosed, your provider will work with you on a personalised plan, which may include lifestyle changes, medication, and regular follow-up
Ask for TBS alongside your DXA scan
If you're scheduled for a bone density scan, ask your provider whether TBS® can be measured at the same time. It uses the same scan, with no extra radiation or appointment, and gives a fuller picture of your bone health.
In this guide
Understanding osteoporosis
Symptoms
Risk factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Why early detection matters
Understanding TBS®
Find a TBS centre
TBS® is available in 90+ countries. Find a centre and ask if it can be added to your DXA scan.
Find a centreThis content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals and does not constitute medical advice or clinical guidance. It is not a substitute for the independent judgement of a qualified physician or specialist. Diagnostic and treatment decisions must be individualised to each patient, based on their complete clinical picture, locally applicable guidelines, and the most current evidence, which are determinations only a licensed healthcare provider is positioned to make.
TBS® is available at imaging centres and clinics in 90+ countries. Ask your doctor whether TBS® can be added to your bone density scan.