Marked Osteopenia in hips at 54

[Choux]

I had a private Dexa scan this week as I am at risk of osteoporosis due to an early menopause and a previous Dexa showing osteopenia.

My worst T score is the femoral neck of one hip showing -2.2. The other side is -1.9. Thankfully my spine is normal.

I will be seeing the GP but I am sure you are all more knowledgeable. Should I be doing specific exercises for my hips?

I have been on HRT for 15 years. Kliovance. Does it need to be stronger?

I will be seeing the GP but I am sure you are all more knowledgeable. Should I be doing specific exercises for my hips?

Yes. The Royal Osteoporosis Society has some videos as does the NHS.
You need to be doing things like squats, lunges, clams, possibly star jumps, side leg lifts with ankle weights. At least 30 mins 4 times a week.

Kliofem comes in various doses. If it's just 1mg, you may be better off swapping to a higher dose of estrogen either as a patch or gel.

You also need to get enough calcium every day, from 750mgs-1000 mcgs.

The ROS has a diet sheet showing how to do this.
eg a tin of sardines is very high, cheese, yoghurt , milk, dried fruits, chickpeas, leafy green veg. And at least 1000mcg Vit D a day.

Thanks so much for the list of things to check do especially the exercises.

I have Vit D on my desk and take it - 1000iu a tablet. I do eat mackerel, yoghurt, cheese, hummus very regularly but could prob track better exactly how much calcium I get and take supplements for the less good diet days.

The Kliovance is 1 mg estradiol / 0.5mg norethisterone. I have been having annual battles to stay on it now I have reached natural menopause age which is one of the reasons I got the Dexa scan. I will research other products before the GP visit.

This list is quite helpful.

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

The HRT marked with a * is licensed for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. HRT is also advised by the British Menopause Society as the first line treatment for women under 60 with osteopenia or osteoporosis. (This is on their website although it can be hard to navigate.) I think it's linked to on the side bar on the right hand side.

You are much too young to stop HRT with that DEXA scan.
(Happy to exchange some more personal experience info by PM if that helps.)

Thanks - the Kliovance I am taking is low dose. 1mg estradiol & 0.5 mgs norethisterone daily. And I think initially I was on Premique 0.625mg/5mg tablets so an even lower dose of estrogen.

I saw that sardines have 24 times the calcium of mackerel so despite preferring tinned mackerel I will switch to sardines. I found a tin in the cupboard so have already eaten them.

I'm amazed that your GP didn't request this when you went through the menopause.

I have had them every 3 years since my menopause started. My early ones all showed osteopenia but in early 2020, this had developed into osteoporosis. I had a three year course of alendronic acid and happy to report that I have staved off the osteoporosis.

I take calcium with D3 daily (prescribed by GP), dose is 1000mg/880iu. https://www.chemist-4-u.com/theical-d3-1000mg-880-iu-chewable-tablets-pack-of-30. You need to have the combined tablet as calcium passes through your body without being absorbed unless it is taken with D3.