As oestrogen, “the chemical fountain of femininity,” declines in the menopausal years, complex changes occur in a woman’s body. This leads to a great deal of physical discomfort such as backaches, fracture of bones and diminution of height.

Bones are never static. A continuous process of bone formation and destruction takes place. This fine balance is what keeps bones healthy. Oestrogen helps maintain this balance.

At menopause, oestrogen levels fall due to declining activity of the ovaries. There is a loss of calcium and minerals from bones, making them brittle and more likely to fracture. The shell of the bones becomes thin and the matrix becomes spongy. Bone pains become excruciating and incapacitating. This condition is called osteoporosis.