Your FRAX Result: A Checklist for a Bone Health Review
Menopause & HormonesArticleCheck what the estimates describe, what went into them, and how they fit your own care discussion.
In this article
If a fracture-risk percentage on your report makes you nervous, ask the clinician to explain what it describes before you decide what to do with it. Bring the report and your questions into the review.
The UK National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG)1 uses FRAX in postmenopausal women with a clinical risk factor for fragility fracture, to guide further assessment and care when indicated. This checklist is for discussing a result with your clinician.1
Before: gather the history behind the estimate
- Previous fractures: write down which bone broke, when and how it happened. Previous fracture is a FRAX input.1
- Family history: check whether either parent broke a hip; parental hip fracture is another input.1
- Medicines and health conditions: bring the names and doses, especially oral glucocorticoids, plus any previous osteoporosis treatment.1
- Falls: tell the clinician about falls, even if they did not cause a fracture. Standard FRAX does not include every risk factor, and clinical judgment is needed for falls, multiple fractures and medication dose.1
If you do not know a detail, mark it as uncertain. Ask whether the clinic has the record or what information you should try to obtain. Bring any bone-density report you already have rather than trying to translate its figures into the calculator yourself.
During: make the result understandable
Ask the clinician to identify which estimate is for hip fracture and which covers major osteoporotic fracture. Confirm whether bone density was included and whether anything in your history needs additional consideration.
NOGG recommends explaining numerical risk with simple frequencies. Ask what your estimate means among one hundred people with a similar assessed risk over the stated period.1
You can say: “I understand the percentage, but I want to know what it changes in my care. What are you recommending, and why?”
Ask about the benefits and downsides of any proposed next step. If you already receive osteoporosis care, ask how the estimate fits with that existing plan.
After: keep the agreed plan with the report
Before leaving, record the next step, who arranges it and when the plan will be reviewed. Write down whom to contact if you discover that a history detail was missing or incorrect.
Read the plan back in your own words and ask whether you have understood it. Keep the explanation beside the percentage so you can refer to both later.
My Body Changed. Now What? includes a Visit Brief and symptom diary. Use the Visit Brief to organize the history and questions you want to bring to the appointment.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't ignore professional advice or delay getting care because of something you read here. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
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Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- National Osteoporosis Guideline Group, 2024Section 3: Fracture risk assessment and case finding (opens in a new tab)abcdefgh
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