Osteoporosis in men: a review.

Osteoporosis has been extensively written about, yet the majority of articles deal only with the population of women patients. This article broadens the scope of the problem to include men, in whom osteoporosis is more common than has been realized. A significant percentage of men are at risk of developing, or have developed, osteoporosis, but unfortunately screening for osteoporosis is often not included in routine examinations. It is particularly a problem of older men. As testosterone begins to decrease with age, risk of osteoporosis dramatically increases as it does in postmenopausal women. This article will review basic risk factors pertaining to men, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies.