Osteoporosis and men: a message to my younger self

One in five men over the age of 50 will suffer fractures due to osteoporosis. However, harmful stereotypes about osteoporosis can leave men dangerously unaware of their risk.

Following Father’s Day on Sunday 19 June and Men’s Health Week this year (13 – 19 June) we caught up with Gareth, Geoffrey and Joe about their experiences of osteoporosis and the advice they would offer their younger selves if they could.

Please note, this blog discusses father and son relationships and may be a sensitive topic for some readers.

Geoffrey’s story

Geoffrey is 75 and lives in Aberdeen.

“I was diagnosed with osteoporosis after reading an article in The Daily Mail in 1999, about the risk of reduction in bone mass after a vasectomy and reduction in testosterone. I went for a private DEXA scan after my GP fobbed me off. I found that I had three vertebrae crushed. I suffered with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones) as a child and have had a total of 45 fractures in my life, so I have been more conscious of my bone density than the average person.”

A message to my younger self

“There’s a misconception that the skeleton is built and that’s it, but it’s actually constantly moving and repairing itself. Bone health has to be looked after just as every other part of the body. I would definitely send this message to my younger self looking back now.

“I worry the younger generations are cutting things from their diet and there needs to be education about how not eating a healthy, balanced diet with adequate vitamin D and calcium could cause osteoporosis.”

Found out more ways to protect your bone health.

Joe's story

Joe is 68 and lives in Suffolk.

“Whilst picking up a heavy shopping bag one day, I suddenly experienced excruciating pain in my back. Over the next year and a half, I experienced several episodes of back pain like this one, each improving after about eight weeks. I visited a physio and chiropractor the pain during this time and when the pain didn’t improve, I paid for a private MRI scan which revealed I had four fractures in my spine. Soon after, a bone density scan revealed the cause; I had osteoporosis. I was shocked. I’d always had a healthy lifestyle; I wasn’t overweight, never smoked and didn’t drink much alcohol. Suddenly, I felt betrayed by my body. It was later discovered I had Coeliac disease, a risk factor for osteoporosis, but with no overt digestive problems, I may have suffered from this for decades.”

A message to my younger self

“My mother had osteoporosis too, but I never even considered myself to be at risk of developing it as well. Even with a clear genetic link, there is a lower expectation of men inheriting the condition so a message to my younger self would definitely be to be aware of this and advocate for my own health checks where possible before they become an issue.

“It’s quite difficult to give a message to my younger self as I had no symptoms of Coeliac disease, so I was unaware of having this and my subsequent greater risk of osteoporosis. I’ve always lived a healthy and active lifestyle so I think I would say to my younger to keep living this way and taking these positive steps.

“I have children myself, two daughters and a son. My son has also been diagnosed with Coeliac disease and he has found out that his bone density is lower than average, but not osteoporosis. A message to him would be to not be afraid of this, as with the right support and treatment, low bone density can be well managed and improved.”

Gareth’s story

Gareth is 72 and lives in Lincolnshire.

“When I was about 20 years old, I started getting really severe pains in my stomach. I was given various different treatments for stomach ulcers over the years, however, the stomach issues continued into my early 40s when my consultant decided to give me a total gastrectomy. This was 30 years ago now.

“Shortly after my gastrectomy, I started to experience pain in my back, hands and feet. I was examined to rule out other possible causes of the pain and in 1997 I was sent for a DXA scan which resulted in my diagnosis of osteoporosis. Even though I wasn’t told to take any supplements at the time of my gastrectomy or thought to be at risk of osteoporosis, I’ve since been told they are intrinsically linked due to calcium deficiency and malnutrition from the operation.”

A message to my younger self

“I wish I’d known about my risk of developing osteoporosis earlier as I might have had a better chance of protecting my bone health. I think it’s particularly important for men to be aware of their risks as I feel like there is a big stigma with men having the condition. When I was first diagnosed my first thought was ‘why have I got it, isn’t this just for old women?”

Find out more about risk factors that may impact bone strength.