Bone Mineral Density Scan: What to Expect
Orthopedic ConditionsOsteoporosis
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What Is It Like to Get a Bone Mineral Density Scan?

What Is It Like to Get a Bone Mineral Density Scan?
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Updated on April 29, 2025
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Osteoporosis is a bone disease that’s common in the United States, affecting almost 20 percent of women and 5 percent of men over age 50.

Osteoporosis occurs when bones are weakened by hormone shifts from aging, medications, or other factors. In the same way that a building relies on steel scaffolding to keep it strong, the body relies on the internal scaffolding of its bones, which are primarily built at a young age. As a person gets get older — and especially after a woman goes through menopause — bones lose strength. If the bones get weak enough, they may break.

To be most effective, the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis should happen well before a breakage, says Ira Khanna, MD, an assistant professor of rheumatology at Mount Sinai West in New York City. The best-case scenario is to catch the disease well before discernible symptoms appear.

Bone mineral density screenings are used to detect osteoporosis and its precursor, osteopenia. “Results from a bone mineral density scan provide a good indication of bone strength. It is the gold standard,” Dr. Khanna says.

If a screening detects the disease or finds that your bones have lower than optimal mass, you can make lifestyle changes and take medication to keep your bones as strong as possible.

What Is a Bone Mineral Density Scan?

The device most commonly used to screen for osteoporosis is a type of low-level X-ray known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). It measures the amount of calcium and other minerals in your bones.

The test requires a prescription from a healthcare provider. Because of the specialized machine required, it is generally performed in a radiology center or hospital.

Results from the test are read by a radiologist, who then consults your primary healthcare provider to determine the best course of treatment.

Do I Need a Bone Density Scan?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends screenings for bone health for women 65 or older. (There is not enough evidence to recommend screenings for men.)

Postmenopausal women younger than 65 who have a higher risk of osteoporosis should also be screened. Factors that increase risk include:

  • Being menopausal
  • Having a low body weight
  • Having a parental history of hip fracture
  • Smoking cigarettes
  • Drinking alcohol in excess
  • Using certain medications, such as corticosteroids for autoimmune disease or insulin for diabetes

“Women and their clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for low bone density and the need to screen those with risk factors earlier than the recommended 65 years,” says Stephanie Faubion, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health in Rochester, Minnesota, and medical director of the The Menopause Society.

You can determine if you’re at increased risk with FRAX, an online fracture risk assessment tool, along with a doctor’s appointment.

Screenings are recommended every two years after the initial visit, Khanna says. People on osteoporosis medication may need to be screened more frequently to see whether the drugs are working.

What Are the Benefits of Getting a Bone Density Scan?

Research has long proven that bone mineral density scans are safe and cost effective.

One cost calculator estimates that with health insurance, the fee is typically just your copay, which is generally $10 to $30. Medicare also covers the screening. People who don’t have health insurance might spend $150 to $250.

Compare that to the cost of breaking a bone from osteoporosis, which one study estimates to be more than $30,000.

Are There Risks With a Bone Density Scan?

DEXA screens use an extremely low level of radiation to measure bone density, which most people shouldn’t be concerned about, according to Khanna. “It is less radiation than we get from natural background radiation walking around outside,” she notes.

One exception: If you’re pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor, as you should avoid exposure to radiation during pregnancy.

Illustrative graphic titled What to Know Before a Bone Mineral Density Scan shows avoid wearing metals, you'll have to lay still, no injections are involved, don't take calcium supplements for 24hrs before, scan will expose you to a small bit of radiation
Here’s what you need to know as you prepare for a bone mineral density scan, also known as a DEXA scan.Everyday Health

What Does a Bone Density Test Involve?

Bone density scans don’t require much preparation.

If you take calcium supplements, your doctor may ask you to stop taking them for at least 24 hours before the scan.

You can wear loose, comfortable clothing, but avoid anything with metal buckles, hooks, or zippers, which may interfere with the machine. Some healthcare practitioners may provide an exam gown to change into for the screening.

Unlike an enclosed MRI, a DEXA scan is done on an open X-ray table.

You’ll simply lie on your back on the table for the length of the scan, which is around 10 to 30 minutes. It’s important to stay still and avoid moving during the scan, because fidgeting can blur the images.

The scan itself is painless. A large scanning arm will slowly pass over parts of your body — generally, the hip and lower spine. The arm will project a narrow beam of low-dose radiation X-rays to calculate the density of your bones.

How Are the Results Evaluated?

A bone density scan compares the results of your scan with a scan showing the expected bone density for a young, healthy adult. The difference between the two is expressed as a standard deviation score, known as a T-score.

Results are measured as follows:

T-score
Results
−1 or higher
Normal bone mineral density
Between −1 and −2.5
Low bone mineral density, increased risk of osteopenia
−2.5 or lower
Osteoporosis

Your doctor may also discuss your Z-score. This is the number of standard deviations above or below what’s expected at your:

  • Age
  • Weight
  • Ethnicity or racial background
If your Z-score is significantly higher or lower than average, your doctor may recommend additional testing to get to the root of the issue.

What Should I Do if My T-Score Indicates Osteoporosis?

People whose T-score indicates significant bone loss should treat it with medication, Khanna says. Some people worry about side effects from the medicines, including the very rare risk of jawbone damage called osteonecrosis.

“But when you talk about a risk-benefit analysis, the risk of not taking medication is more likely to severely impact your life and your mortality than the extremely rare risk of osteonecrosis,” she advises.

There are several medicines — bisphosphonates, hormone therapy, and more — used to treat the condition. You and your physician should discuss the options to determine which is best for you.

The Takeaway

  • A bone mineral density screening, such as a DEXA scan, is the gold standard for detecting osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) before it leads to bone fractures.
  • A DEXA scan is painless. It involves lying still for up to 30 minutes while an X-ray is used to measure the amount of calcium and other minerals in your bones.
  • Results from a bone mineral density screening can be used to determine if you require treatment to strengthen your bones and protect your health.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Osteoporosis. National Institute on Aging. November 15, 2022.
  2. Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. February 2025.
  3. Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. January 14, 2025.
  4. Haseltine KN et al. Bone Mineral Density: Clinical Relevance and Quantitative Assessment. The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. April 2021.
  5. Williams SA et al. Economic Burden of Osteoporotic Fractures in US Managed Care Enrollees. The American Journal of Managed Care. May 2020.
  6. DXA Scan (Bone Density Test). Cleveland Clinic. May 28, 2024.
  7. Bone Density Test Overview. Mayo Clinic. September 21, 2022.
  8. Osteoporosis Treatment: Medications Can Help. Mayo Clinic. August 28, 2024.
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Beth Biggee, MD

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Beth Biggee, MD, is medical director and an integrative rheumatologist at Rheumission, a virtual integrative rheumatology practice for people residing in California and Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind company offers whole person autoimmune care by a team of integrative rheumatologists, lifestyle medicine practitioners, autoimmune dietitians, psychologists, and care coordinators.

Dr. Biggee also works as a healthcare wellness consultant for Synergy Wellness Center in Hudson, Massachusetts. Teamed with Synergy, she provides in-person lifestyle medicine and holistic consults, and contributes to employee workplace wellness programs. She has over 20 years of experience in rheumatology and holds board certifications in rheumatology and integrative and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Biggee brings a human-centered approach to wellness rather than focusing solely on diseases.

Dr. Biggee graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Canisius College, and graduated magna cum laude and as valedictorian from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Medical School. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital, completed her fellowship in rheumatology at Tufts–New England Medical Center, and completed training in integrative rheumatology at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. Following her training, she attained board certification in rheumatology and internal medicine through the American Board of Internal Medicine, attained board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Physician Specialties, and attained accreditation as a certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She is certified in Helms auricular acupuncture and is currently completing coursework for the Aloha Ayurveda integrative medicine course for physicians.

In prior roles, Dr. Biggee taught as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (an affiliate of Columbia University). She was also clinical associate of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and instructed "introduction to clinical medicine" for medical students at Tufts. She was preceptor for the Lawrence General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.

Dr. Biggee has published in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis in Rheumatism, Current Opinions in Rheumatology, Journal for Musculoskeletal Medicine, Medicine and Health Rhode Island, and Field Guide to Internal Medicine.

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Meryl Davids Landau

Meryl Davids Landau

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Meryl Davids Landau is an award-winning health and science writer and a women's fiction author. Her latest novel is Warrior Won, in which a woman facing serious life challenges must learn to use all of her mindfulness and meditation skills. Meryl's articles have appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, the Washington Post, The New York Times, Prevention, Oprah Magazine, Consumer Reports, AARP, and of course many pieces for Everyday Health.
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