DEXA

Do not take your calcium the day of your exam.

Avoid wearing clothes that have metal in the area of the spine and hips

Reasons to ask your Doctor for a DEXA

Post-menopausal women with at least one additional risk factor (other than menopause).
All women older than 65 regardless of risk factors.
Post-menopausal women who present with fractures.
Women considering therapy for osteoporosis, if bone mineral density (BMD) testing would affect the decision.
Women who have been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for prolonged periods of time.

What to expect during your exam

During a comprehensive DEXA bone evaluation, a patient lies comfortably on a padded table while the DEXA unit scans one or more areas of his/her body, usually the spine or hip because they are particularly prone to fracturing. When the exam is complete, your images are sent to a computer and analyzed. They are then given to a radiologist, a physician who specializes in the diagnostic interpretation of medical images. After your study has been reviewed, your personal physician will receive a report of the findings.