Bone density test (DXA): do you need one, and how much is it?

Estrogen helps keep bone strong. When estrogen drops at menopause, bone loss speeds up, and some women develop osteoporosis: bones that are thinner and break more easily. Many women say it the Filipino way: "wala na tayong protection sa buto." Osteoporosis has no symptoms until a bone breaks, often the wrist, spine or hip.

The good news is that bone loss can be measured, and there are ways to slow it. HRT prevents osteoporotic fractures, and The Menopause Society 2022 statement lists osteoporosis prevention as one reason some women continue hormone therapy past 65 (NAMS 2022). Other bone medicines, calcium, vitamin D and strength training also play a part. Read more on bone loss.

The bone health checklist above asks about the things that raise your risk of osteoporosis and fractures, based on the FRAX risk factors and the NHS list:

• Early menopause (before 45) or premature ovarian insufficiency (before 40), including surgical menopause. See early menopause.
• A previous fracture from a minor fall or bump in adult life.
• A parent who broke a hip.
• Low body weight (a BMI of 19 or less).
• Smoking.
• Long-term steroid tablets (such as prednisone) or certain other medicines.
• Drinking 3 or more units of alcohol a day.
• Conditions that affect bone, such as rheumatoid arthritis, an overactive thyroid, or problems absorbing food.
• Periods stopping for more than 6 months before menopause, for example from over-exercising or dieting.

The checklist does not give you a score or a diagnosis. It shows which factors apply and whether a DXA is usually something to discuss with your doctor.

DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) is the gold-standard test for bone density (Makati Med). It uses a very low dose of X-rays and takes about 10 to 20 minutes lying on a table.

In general practice, doctors often consider a DXA:

• From about age 50 or after menopause if you have risk factors. St. Luke's suggests discussing it at 50+ or after a fracture from a minor fall (St. Luke's).
• At 65 for all women. The US Preventive Services Task Force (2025) recommends screening all women 65 and older, plus younger postmenopausal women at higher fracture risk (USPSTF).
• Earlier if you had early menopause, take long-term steroids, or have already broken a bone easily.

Your result is given as a T-score, which compares your bones with a healthy young adult. A T-score of -2.5 or lower means osteoporosis; between -1 and -2.5 is low bone mass (osteopenia).

FRAX is a free online calculator from the University of Sheffield that estimates your 10-year chance of a major fracture or hip fracture. It uses your age, weight, height and risk factors, and can include your DXA result if you have one.

Open the official FRAX tool. We link to it rather than copying it, because the official version is kept up to date. Choose the country model closest to your situation and take the result to your doctor; your doctor decides what it means for you.

• Exact Check, lumbar spine and hips: ₱2,400 per scan (Exact Check)
• Exact Check, forearm: ₱1,500 per scan (Exact Check)
• Exact Check, routine plus whole body: ₱3,500 per scan (Exact Check)
• Healthway: ₱4,500 to ₱6,100 per scan (promo to regular) (Healthway)

Exact Check prices are from its July 2025 price list. The Healthway range is an estimate from a search snippet; confirm it with the clinic. Hospital bone centres such as Makati Medical Center's Center for Osteoporosis and Bone Health (+632 8888 8999 loc. 3334) and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center Bone Mineral Densitometry Unit also do DXA scans; call for current prices.

Most centres ask for a doctor's request. Wear clothes without metal, and tell the staff if you recently had a barium test or contrast scan.

Prices checked October 2026. You can book lab and imaging tests through Hati Health.

• Normal result: keep up calcium-rich food, vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise and strength training. Your doctor will say when to repeat the scan.
• Low bone mass: your doctor may use FRAX to decide whether medicine is needed, and will review lifestyle and calcium.
• Osteoporosis: treatment options include bone medicines such as alendronate (Fosavance, ₱1,190.75 per box of 2 tablets (2 weeks) (Watsons)) or, for some women, hormone therapy. Your doctor sets the plan.

Check your calcium with the Filipino calcium calculator. Dilis, tuyo, malunggay and tokwa can do a lot of the work before you reach for a tablet. A calcium plus vitamin D supplement such as Caltrate Silver costs ₱397.25 per bottle of 30 (Watsons).

Prices checked October 2026.