There are doctors in three sub-specialties of medicine that are especially trained to diagnosis and treat osteoporosis. They are rheumatologists (specialists of arthritis), gynecologists (specialists of women’s health problems), and endocrinologists (specialists of diseases that affect glands).

Diagnosis of osteoporosis may be done by your primary care physician, but often it is done by one of these three specialists especially if you are seeing that specialist for another condition that may predispose you to osteoporosis. Your primary care doctor refers you to a rheumatologist when you have a problem that affects your musculoskeletal system such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, a gynecologist if you are a woman and have a problem with your reproductive system such as going through menopause, and an endocrinologist when you have a problem with your endocrine system, such as diabetes, thyroid, over or under production of hormones, or bone diseases.

If you are at risk for osteoporosis, your primary care physician may have already discussed this with you. If not, be sure to include it on your question list at your next visit. He or she will either initiate treatment or possibly refer you to one of the above specialists. If you are already seeing one of these three specialists for another condition and are at risk for osteoporosis, you already are in good hands.

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