Osteoporosis is a disease that causes loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. This weakening of the bones makes them more likely to break.

A bone density test measures the strength and density of your bones as you approach menopause and, when the test is repeated sometime later, can help determine how quickly you are losing bone mass and density.

Bones are tough and resilient, but if you push them hard enough—if you fall on a hard surface, for instance—they can crack or break.

Osteoporosis thins and weakens a person's bones, making them more porous (less dense) and fragile, and thus more likely to break. Although a fracture is often the first outward sign of osteoporosis, a bone mineral density test can help diagnose it before that happens.

A hip fracture is classified by the specific area of the break and the type of break(s) in the bone. It is a serious injury and requires immediate medical attention.