Who Should Get a Bone Density Test — and at What Age?
By Kamandeep Chhabra, CCPA, MRT(N) — Director of Operations & Physician Relations, Limeworth X-Ray & Ultrasound, Hamilton
As a general rule, women should have a first bone density (DEXA) scan around age 65 and men around 70 — but earlier if you have risk factors like a broken bone from a minor fall after 50, long-term steroid use, early menopause, low body weight, a parent who broke a hip, or certain medical conditions. In Ontario, OHIP covers a baseline scan when your doctor decides it’s needed. If any of this sounds like you, ask your provider for a requisition. |
A bone density scan is one of those tests people aren’t sure applies to them until a doctor brings it up — or until a fracture makes the point the hard way. Since osteoporosis is usually silent, knowing when to get checked is genuinely useful. Here’s who should be thinking about a DEXA scan, and when.
The General Age Guidelines
For people without special risk factors, the usual starting points are:
Women: around age 65. Bone loss accelerates after menopause, and 65 is the common age to establish a baseline.
Men: around age 70. Men lose bone more gradually, but risk climbs with age, and osteoporosis in men is more common — and more overlooked — than most people think.
These are starting points for average-risk people. Plenty of people should be tested earlier, and that’s where risk factors come in.
Reasons to Test Earlier
Talk to your doctor about a bone density scan before the standard age if any of these apply to you:
A fracture from a minor fall after age 50. Breaking a bone from a standing-height fall (a "fragility fracture") is one of the strongest signals of weak bones.
Long-term steroid (glucocorticoid) use, which can thin bones significantly.
Early menopause (before 45), or surgical removal of the ovaries.
A parent who broke a hip, which raises your own risk.
Low body weight or a small frame.
Smoking, or heavy alcohol use.
Certain medical conditions — rheumatoid arthritis, celiac or other malabsorption conditions, overactive thyroid or parathyroid, some hormonal conditions.
Certain medications beyond steroids, including some used for breast or prostate cancer.
For men specifically: low testosterone or androgen-deprivation therapy.
If you recognize yourself in that list, it’s worth raising with your doctor rather than waiting for a milestone birthday.
What the Test Is Like
A DEXA scan is refreshingly easy. You lie on a padded table while a scanner passes over your hip and lower spine — the sites most likely to fracture. It’s painless, takes only 10 to 15 minutes, and uses a very low dose of radiation, less than a chest X-ray. There’s no injection and no special recovery; you go straight back to your day.
One small tip: if you take calcium supplements, your clinic may ask you to skip them on the day of the scan, since undigested calcium can occasionally affect the spine reading. Your requisition or clinic will let you know.
How Coverage Works in Ontario
In Ontario, OHIP covers bone density testing when it’s medically indicated and your doctor provides a requisition. The decision to do a baseline scan rests on your provider’s assessment of your risk. (You may have seen confusing news in 2026 about testing intervals — the restrictive change was clarified and high-risk coverage restored, so if your doctor recommends a scan, coverage is there.)
Because you need a requisition, the path is simple: raise it with your family doctor or nurse practitioner, and if they agree it’s warranted, they’ll send you for the test.
At Limeworth, we provide OHIP-covered DEXA testing in Hamilton with a requisition, six days a week including Saturdays — a convenient option close to home on the Mountain. |
The Takeaway
If you’re a woman approaching 65 or a man approaching 70, a baseline bone density scan is worth discussing. If you’re younger but carry any of the risk factors above — especially a fragility fracture, steroid use, or early menopause — don’t wait for a birthday to bring it up. Catching thinning bones early gives you the most options to protect them, and it starts with a simple, painless scan.
Not Sure If You Qualify? Start the Conversation
If you’re reading this and wondering whether you fit, the simplest next step is to raise it at your next appointment. You don’t need to arrive with a diagnosis — just mention the pieces of your history that matter: your age, any bone you’ve broken from a minor fall, medications like steroids, an early menopause, a parent’s hip fracture, or conditions that affect your bones. Your doctor can put those together, decide whether a baseline scan makes sense, and provide a requisition if it does. It’s a short conversation that can pay off for decades, because the earlier you know your numbers, the more options you have to protect them. And if a scan isn’t warranted yet, you’ll leave knowing that too — which is its own kind of reassurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age should I get a bone density test?
Generally around 65 for women and 70 for men if you’re average risk. Earlier if you have risk factors such as a fragility fracture after 50, long-term steroid use, early menopause, low body weight, or a parent who broke a hip.
Do I need a bone density scan if I feel fine?
Possibly. Osteoporosis is usually silent until a fracture, so testing is based on age and risk factors, not symptoms. Ask your doctor whether your risk profile warrants a baseline scan.
Is a bone density test covered by OHIP?
Yes, when medically indicated and ordered with a requisition. The decision to do a baseline scan rests on your provider’s assessment of your risk.
How do I book a DEXA scan in Hamilton?
You’ll need a doctor’s requisition. Email it with your phone number to 849xray@gmail.com or call 905-574-7755. We offer appointments six days a week, including Saturdays.
Limeworth X-Ray & Ultrasound offers accurate, OHIP-covered bone density (DEXA) testing at our ICHSC-accredited clinic on the Hamilton Mountain, near CF Lime Ridge Mall. With advanced DEXA technology, experienced technologists, and fast appointments six days a week (including Saturdays), we make checking your bone health simple and stress-free. To book: A BMD test needs a doctor’s requisition. Email it with your phone number to 849xray@gmail.com, or call 905-574-7755. Please bring your OHIP card and requisition to your appointment. 📍 Suite 102, 849 Upper Wentworth St, Hamilton, ON L9A 5H4 | Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm | Serving Hamilton, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Burlington, Binbrook, Flamborough, Brantford & Paris. |
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