Your mother might be shrinking, and you haven't noticed. That loss of height could be a sign her bones are quietly crumbling.
Menopause doesn't just end a woman's monthly cycle. It also triggers bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis and fractures, but many Nigerian women only find out after a minor fall breaks a hip or wrist.
Qudus Lawal, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, told PT Health Watch that the drop in oestrogen after menopause speeds up the activity of cells that break down bone, while the cells that rebuild bone can't keep up. The result is weaker, thinner bones.
"The stronger the bone density a woman builds before menopause, the better protected she is against the accelerated loss that occurs afterwards," Lawal said.
He compared bone health to a bank account. Before menopause, women make deposits by building bone density. After menopause, withdrawals accelerate. If the account runs low, fractures happen.
In Nigeria, women typically reach menopause around age 48. Perimenopause — the transition period — can start years earlier and lasts until one year after the final period. Postmenopause begins after 12 consecutive months without menstruation.
Lawal explained that oestrogen normally keeps osteoclasts — the cells that break down bone — in check. When oestrogen levels fall, those cells become hyperactive. Meanwhile, osteoblasts, the bone-building cells, can't replace what is lost.
"One of the ways people present is that they grow shorter," Lawal said. "Normally, once you get to a certain age after puberty, you aren't supposed to grow shorter. But many of our mothers begin to lose height over time."
He noted that many women only realise they have significant bone loss after suffering a fracture from a minor incident. "Just a little trip in the bathroom could lead to a major fracture," he added.
Menopause itself is often overlooked in Nigeria's sexual and reproductive health framework, despite its serious health implications. According to the World Health Organisation, menopause occurs when declining oestrogen and loss of ovarian function cause periods to stop permanently. Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and anxiety.
Lawal recommended a combination of proper nutrition, exercise, and preventive care to protect bone health after menopause. He advised women to eat diets rich in calcium and vitamin D, do weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises, and take steps to prevent falls.
"When you take foods and supplements that are rich in those essential nutrients, it helps build the bone," he said.
He stressed that bone density loss is often silent and may not produce symptoms until complications occur. In some countries, bone density screening is part of routine wellness checks for postmenopausal women, helping identify high-risk individuals early.
Lawal urged women to adopt healthy lifestyles and prioritise bone health long before menopause. The goal, he said, is to build and maintain strong bone density before the hormonal changes of menopause kick in.
Not every woman will develop osteoporosis or suffer a fracture, Lawal noted. The risk depends largely on how strong her bones were before menopause began.