Osteoporosis in women.

Many preventive and treatment strategies are now available for osteoporosis, offering many women the opportunity to forego its many complications. Exercise with calcium and vitamin D supplements is recommended for most patients. Estrogens are a preferred treatment but not acceptable to many women. Alendronate, a bisphosphonate, recently became available to treat osteoporosis. Calcitonin, subcutaneous or intranasal, also can be useful.