1 in 3 Women Don't Know Menopause and Bone Loss Are Connected, New Osteoboost Data Reveals
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 28, 2026 — Osteoboost Health, the developer of the first and only FDA-cleared prescription medical device for low bone density, today released its inaugural State of Bones Report, designed to shine a light on the perspectives and experiences of women and their bone health as they enter the perimenopause-menopause transition and beyond.
The report is based on an independent survey that sampled 1,000 women aged 45 and older and features key findings about their awareness, screening history, diagnoses, and experiences navigating modern bone health care.
The results show that women are not unconcerned about their bone health; they care and are ready to act. What they need are better tools, earlier conversations, and clearer information.
The Awareness Gap
More than half of respondents (57%) have never heard of osteopenia, the clinical precursor to osteoporosis, where 52% of fractures occur, and 37.5% are unaware that menopause and bone loss are even connected. Meanwhile, 34% do not know what a DEXA scan is, the standard tool for measuring bone density, and half have never had one. Of women who have received a bone-related diagnosis, 44% don't know their bone density status.
“I talk to women every day who are shocked to learn that menopause and bone loss are connected. The system fails to properly educate. And then when we do finally reach women, often years too late, we hand them a medication and wonder why they're hesitant,” said Laura Yecies, CEO of Osteoboost. “They're not being difficult. They're being rational, and they are frustrated. They don't have enough information to say yes. And that’s not a patient or physician problem. That's a healthcare system problem.”
The Screening Gap
Nearly half of women over 45 have never had a DEXA scan. Among those who have a bone health diagnosis, 27% still do not have a clear care plan they understand. The system is identifying the problem and then leaving women alone with it.
Only 45% of respondents say a doctor regularly discusses bone health with them, with 35% saying it has never come up at all. And 45% of women have never raised the topic themselves, often because they simply didn't think it was important.
The Trust Deficit
Women are paying attention. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say they are worried about bone health as they age. But only 31% feel very supported and informed when it comes to protecting their bone health, and 26% say they don't feel supported at all.
The perception gap runs deeper than access. Nearly half of women (46%) do not believe bone health is taken as seriously as other women's health issues like breast cancer or reproductive health.
The Inflection Point
There is a window when bone health intervention matters most, and it is earlier than many realize. The years around menopause, roughly 45 to 59, are when women experience the fastest bone loss. That is also when awareness is low: 74.5% of women aged 55 to 59 have never heard of osteopenia, and 71% have never had a DEXA scan.
Doctors are eager to help when the conversation starts. The barrier is that bone health often hasn't been top of mind during visits that are already packed with competing priorities.
What Women Are Actually Asking For
The top responses to what would make the biggest difference in the next year were not complex: affordable or covered treatment options (20%), better tools to track bone health progress (10%), knowing fracture risk in plain numbers (10%), and access to effective, low-risk treatment options (10%). Women are asking for clarity, access, and to be treated as partners in their own care.
When women do get screened, the system delivers. Among those who have had a DEXA scan, 77.5% say their doctor explained their results clearly. The barrier is not what happens inside the appointment; it is getting there in the first place.
To read the full survey results, click here.
About the Survey
Osteoboost surveyed 1,053 women via the online platform, Centiment. Those surveyed were based in the United States and were between the ages of 45-85. This survey was administered from April 23, 2026, to April 28, 2026.
About Osteoboost Health, Inc.
Osteoboost Health is a Redwood City-based company that applies science and medical expertise to create better health outcomes for women and men at risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. The company's first FDA-approved device, Osteoboost, is poised to become the new standard of care in treating postmenopausal osteopenia. Osteoboost Health is backed by leading investors, including Esplanade Ventures, Terumo Medical Corporation, Ambit Health Ventures, Good Growth Capital, Portfolia, Astia Angels, AARP, and Golden Seeds. For more information about Osteoboost, including the full Indications for Use, please visit www.osteoboost.com.
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