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Bone density scan: at what age, and how often

Get a bone density (DXA) scan at 65 if you are a woman, or earlier after menopause if a risk check shows increased risk. The USPSTF kept both at grade B in January 2025. For men the evidence is insufficient, and the USPSTF sets no repeat interval. (USPSTF, 2025)

USPSTF grade
B
Who
Women
Ages
65+ (earlier if at risk)
How often
See below

When it starts, when it can stop

  • Starts: At 65 for all women. Earlier for postmenopausal women at increased risk. (USPSTF, 2025)
  • Can stop: The USPSTF sets no upper age limit for women 65 or older. (USPSTF, 2025)

Who it is for

Women 65 years or older, and postmenopausal women younger than 65 who are at increased risk of osteoporosis. (USPSTF, 2025)

Test and how often

  • A bone density scan (DXA), with or without a fracture risk assessment. (USPSTF, 2025)
  • The USPSTF did not set a repeat interval. It notes that repeating the scan 4 to 8 years later did not add accuracy in the studies it reviewed. (USPSTF, 2025)

Bone density (DXA) test: who, when, how often

Bone density screening by group: USPSTF 2025 and Medicare
WhoWhenHow often
Women 65 and olderFrom 65 (USPSTF grade B)No interval set by the USPSTF
Postmenopausal women under 65If a risk assessment shows increased risk (grade B)No interval set by the USPSTF
MenEvidence insufficient (grade I); clinician judgmentNot set
Medicare Part BIf you meet a Medicare conditionOnce every 24 months, more often if medically necessary

The USPSTF reviewed studies on repeat scans and found that repeating at 4 to 8 years did not add accuracy in predicting fractures, so it did not set an interval. (USPSTF, 2025)

Medicare pays for a bone mass measurement once every 24 months if you meet a condition, and you pay nothing if the provider accepts assignment. Covered every 24 months is not the same as needed every 24 months. (Medicare.gov)

Your doctor will set the timing of a repeat scan from your first result and your risk factors.

Strong bones are one half of avoiding a fracture; not falling is the other. Read more: falls prevention for adults 65 and older.

Where the USPSTF draws the line

Grade C means a small net benefit, so it is offered to some people; D means do not screen; I means the evidence is not enough to decide. (USPSTF grade definitions)

  • Grade I: the evidence is not enough to weigh benefits and harms of screening men. (USPSTF, 2025)

Questions people ask

At what age should you get a bone density scan?

At 65 for all women. Postmenopausal women younger than 65 should be screened if a risk assessment shows increased risk. For men the USPSTF found the evidence insufficient, so there is no set age. The test is a DXA bone density scan, with or without a fracture risk assessment, and the USPSTF sets no repeat interval. (USPSTF, 2025)

Do I need a bone density test every 2 years?

Not necessarily. The USPSTF does not set a repeat interval. Every 24 months is how often Medicare pays for the test if you meet a condition, not a schedule everyone needs. Ask your doctor when to repeat it. (USPSTF, 2025) (Medicare.gov)

What puts a woman under 65 at increased risk?

The USPSTF lists menopausal status, low body weight, a parent who broke a hip, smoking and drinking too much alcohol. For a postmenopausal woman with at least one of these, it suggests a clinical risk tool (FRAX is the most studied) to decide whether to scan. (USPSTF, 2025)

Is there an age limit for bone density tests?

The USPSTF sets no upper age limit for women 65 or older. (USPSTF, 2025)

How often should a bone density test be repeated?

The USPSTF does not set an interval. It notes that, in the studies it reviewed, repeating the scan 4 to 8 years later did not improve fracture prediction, and that women with lower first results and older age moved to osteoporosis faster. Your clinician will set the timing from your result. (USPSTF, 2025)

Should men get a bone density test?

The USPSTF found the evidence insufficient to weigh the benefits and harms of screening men (grade I, January 2025). It says "clinicians should use their clinical judgment regarding whether to screen for osteoporosis in men." So for men it is a decision to make with your clinician, not a routine test. (USPSTF, 2025)

How common is osteoporosis in men?

Less common than in women. The USPSTF cites national survey data from 2017 to 2018: osteoporosis in 4.4% of men 50 or older versus 19.6% of women, and in 5.7% of men 65 or older versus 27.1% of women. (USPSTF, 2025)

At what age should a man get a bone density test?

The USPSTF sets no age for men. It notes that other guidelines vary: some organizations recommend screening men older than 70, while others do not take a position or recommend against it. (USPSTF, 2025)

Does this advice apply if I take steroids or have a bone condition?

No. The USPSTF recommendations do not apply to people with osteoporosis caused by another condition (such as cancer, a metabolic bone disease or hyperthyroidism) or by long-term use of a medicine linked to bone loss (such as glucocorticoids). People in that situation should ask their clinician about testing. (USPSTF, 2025)

Does Medicare cover a bone density test for men?

Yes, if a man meets one of the Medicare conditions: X-rays that show possible osteoporosis, osteopenia or a vertebral fracture; taking prednisone or another steroid-type drug, or planning to start; primary hyperparathyroidism; or monitoring an osteoporosis drug. Part B then covers it once every 24 months (more often if medically necessary), and you pay nothing if the provider accepts assignment. (Medicare.gov)

Does Medicare pay for a bone density test?

Medicare Part B covers a bone mass measurement once every 24 months (more often if medically necessary) if you meet a condition, such as being a woman your doctor finds estrogen-deficient and at risk, X-rays that show possible osteoporosis or a vertebral fracture, taking steroid drugs like prednisone, primary hyperparathyroidism, or monitoring an osteoporosis drug. You pay nothing if the provider accepts assignment. (Medicare.gov)

Source

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, "Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: Screening", final recommendation released January 14, 2025. Read it on uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Checked against the live page on 2026-10-28.

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