Hi Stockport,
I have Osteoporosis, it was diagnosed after a DEXA scan requested by fracture clinic after I broke an ankle after a very trivial fall. As it happens I was on HRT at the time. The actual diagnosis was made by a specialist osteoporosis nurse, I didn't see a consultant for a couple of years and that only happened when I didn't get on with Bisphosphonates
I would ask about HRT - it does appear to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
One thing both the Osteo nurse and consultant wanted to know was did I have cereal with milk every day. Both that and weight bearing exercise are known to improve bone density.
Initially I took Alendronic acid but generally speaking Bisphosonates were not good for me at all, lots of gum bleeding and significant stomach pain. Oh and it aggravated existing MS causing significant falls. Eventually I saw a consultant and was put on Denosumab injections - said to be better tolerated. Which in truth it is, but for me, the week after the injection needs to be written off, due to feeling really not very good. Thankfully there are only 2 injections a year.
If I'd known then what I know now I would have stuck to weight bearing exercise and upping the amount of calcium and D3 I get rather than embarking on the medication route.