Bone Density Screening

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become weak and frail, which can make you vulnerable to broken bones. It affects both men and women, although it's more common among women. One in 3 women past menopause has osteoporosis. Often times, people who have osteoporosis aren’t aware they have it. The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable.

How Do I Know if I Have Osteoporosis?

Bone density measurement is a diagnostic test used to measure the amount of mineral in your bones. El Camino Health has the latest technology in bone density screening and uses dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This painless procedure involves lying on a table for 10 to 20 minutes while a low-dose X-ray beam scans your spine and hips. The test has no known risks, other than minimal radiation exposure.

Bone Density Center at El Camino Health

The Bone Density Center is located in the Sobrato Pavilion on the Mountain View campus in the Women's Imaging Center. You may find it convenient to schedule this bi-annual screening procedure when you're also having other tests or examinations done.

Check with your doctor to find out if this test is right for you. Once you have a doctor’s referral, call 650-940-7050 to schedule your bone density screening exam.

Insurance Coverage

Medicare has covered bone density tests since 1998 for qualified individuals at risk for osteoporosis. Private insurance coverage varies, so check with your insurance provider to find out about your coverage. In either case, your primary care doctor must order the bone density exam.