Maria Luisa Bianchi, MD

A 62-year-old woman of normal body size came to my attention for severe progressive osteoporosis. She had 3 previous vertebral fractures (T10, T11, L1). DEXA scan revealed a BMD T-score of -4.1 on lumbar spine and -3.9 on hip.

A young woman (P.A.) suffered from back pain for almost 2 years before contacting our Bone Metabolic Unit in 1996. She was a beautiful South-Italian woman, 26 years old, with dark eyes, dark hair, and an olive complexion.

Questions this month have been answered by:Maria Luisa Bianchi, MD, Italy, OBGYN.net Osteoporosis Editorial Advisor

Questions this month have been answered by:Maria Luisa Bianchi, MD, Italy, OBGYN.net Osteoporosis Editorial Advisor

Questions this month have been answered by:Maria Luisa Bianchi, MD, Italy, OBGYN.net Osteoporosis Editorial AdvisorHarvey S. Marchbein, MD, FACOG, FACS, OBGYN.net Osteoporosis Chairman and Editorial Advisor

Q: Is the treatment for Osteoporosis different for males than females? I am a 67 year old male. Recently by x-rays of my back, it was stated in the report that I have osteoporosis . In a phone conversation with my primary physician's assistant, he stated that I should be on hormones, but that he would have to run it by the primary physician. Since that time, and this was at thanksgiving, I have tried to make contact, by phone to the primary physician. I was told, by office personnel, that I should make an appointment to discuss the situation. My question is, why is it necessary to discuss treatment face to face? Can't he advise me by phone? What is necessary? My schedule is very irregular and also why the extra expense for an office visit just to say here is what you do and if a prescription is necessary, can't he call it in as has been done on other occasions. I would like to know also, isn't it rather uncommon for a male to have this condition? Could you tell me what is the usual treatment in this kind of situation?