Question

A post-menopausal woman will have a significant decrease in estrogen levels. Explain why this will lead to bone resorption that is faster than bone deposition. What is the term for this occurrence?

Answer 1

After menopause, the production of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stops which stops the development of ovarian follicles. As estrogen is mainly produced by the granulosa cells of the developing follicles in the ovaries, in post menopausal women, there is significant decrease in the estrogen production which causes a wide range of health issues. During the reproductive life of a female, there is continuous production of estrogen. Estrogen along with maintaining the secondary sexual characters of females and uterine growth and development, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by decreasing the low density lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides and increasing the high density lipoprotein (HDL) triglycerides. Estrogen also increases the activities of osteoblasts causing new bone formation as well as decreases the activities of osteoclasts reducing the bone resorption thus maintaing healthy bones in females.

After menopause, due to significant decrease in estrogen level there is decreased osteoblastic and increased osteoclastic activities which promotes the bone resorption at a faster rate than the osteoblasts can add new bones which decreases the bone mass making them prone to fractures. This condition of weakening of bones due to decrease in estrogen level which happens after menopause and which makes the bones less dense and weak and more prone to fractures is called as postmenopausal osteoporosis.