A DEXA scan is not a one-off test. For women with osteoporosis or osteopenia, it is a monitoring tool. One that tells you and your doctor how your bones are responding to treatment, lifestyle changes, and time. The interval between scans, what the results will show, and how to interpret change are all worth understanding before you get there.
When will your next scan be?
The timing of your next DEXA scan depends on your diagnosis, your treatment, and your doctor's clinical judgment. General guidelines suggest:
- For women with osteoporosis who have started medication: a repeat scan after one to two years of treatment, to assess response
- For women with osteopenia not on medication: a repeat scan every one to two years, to monitor for progression
- For women with normal bone density but risk factors: every two years, or as directed by your doctor
If your doctor has not discussed timing with you, ask at your next appointment. Note the date in Lenari so you get a reminder when it is approaching.
What the scan will measure
Your follow-up scan will measure BMD at the same sites as your first (spine, hip, and forearm if included) and produce new T-scores and Z-scores. The key comparison is not just where you are, but how far you have moved from where you started.
Understanding what "change" actually means
Bone density changes slowly. It is normal to see only modest differences between scans, and that is not a sign that treatment is failing. A change needs to be larger than the "least significant change" threshold, typically around 3 to 5 percent, to be considered statistically meaningful rather than just measurement variation.
This is why a small improvement looks encouraging but may not be significant, and why a small decline does not necessarily mean treatment is not working. Your doctor will interpret the numbers in context — considering the margin of measurement error, the site, and your clinical history.
What a good result looks like
The goal of treatment is not necessarily a dramatic improvement in T-score — it is stability. A T-score that has held steady after one to two years of treatment is a success. Bone density that has modestly improved is an excellent result. Even a slower rate of decline than expected can indicate that treatment is doing its job.
As a general rule in bone health, every 1% increase in bone density correlates with a 4% to 5% decreased in fracture risk.
Some women are disappointed when their follow-up scan does not show significant improvement. Understanding that stability is the primary goal and that preventing further loss is what reduces fracture risk helps put the result in the right perspective.
Preparing for your scan
A few practical things to know before your follow-up:
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing without metal fastenings. Zips, underwire bras, and metal buttons can interfere with the scan
- Do not take calcium supplements on the morning of your scan. They can affect the result
- The scan itself takes around 10 to 20 minutes and is completely painless
Photographing your results in Lenari
When your new results arrive, photograph the report in Lenari straight away. Lenari will explain every number and in the future, the second scan comparison feature will show you exactly what changed between your first and second scan, what that change means clinically, and whether your treatment appears to be working. That comparison is one of the most valuable things Lenari will do for you.