Screening for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women

Release Date: September 2002

Summary of Recommendations / Supporting Documents

Summary of Recommendations

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women aged 65 and older be screened routinely for osteoporosis. The USPSTF recommends that routine screening begin at age 60 for women at increased risk for osteoporotic fractures. (Go to Clinical Considerations for discussion of women at increased risk.)
  Grade: B Recommendation.
• The USPSTF makes no recommendation for or against routine osteoporosis screening in postmenopausal women who are younger than 60 or in women aged 60-64 who are not at increased risk for osteoporotic fractures.
  Grade: C Recommendation.

Top of Page

Supporting Documents

Screening for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women, September 2002
Recommendations and Rationale (PDF File, 84 KB; PDF Help)
Summary of the Evidence (PDF File, 162 KB; PDF Help)
Systematic Evidence Review (PDF Files Download)
What's New from the USPSTF (PDF File, 76 KB; PDF Help)

Top of Page

Current as of September 2002

Internet Citation:

Screening for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women, Topic Page. September 2002. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsoste.htm