Can men get osteoporosis?

It is a common misconception that osteoporosis is a “woman’s disease.” Although women do tend to experience osteoporosis more than men and experience the condition at a younger age, men can also get osteoporosis. Osteoporosis tends to begin at a later age in men — around 70 years of age or so compared to 50 years in women.^[1] Risk factors for male osteoporosis include low testosterone levels, vitamin D deficiency, poor calcium intake, tobacco and heavy alcohol use, and prolonged use of some medications, including glucocorticoids (a type of steroid).^[2]