At menopause, as the levels of estrogen and testosterone drop precipitously, the risk for fracture increases in general. And it rises specifically for women with a family history of bone breaks.

Just ask your relatives on your mother’s side if they have had osteoporosis or bone fractures, and you will quickly learn if you are at risk.

Certain genes have been identified that predispose women to bone loss, but to date, nothing can be done to alter the genetics, except to put you on notice and motivate you to get serious about prevention.