Hello, my name is Tara. I am a freshman in Sacred Heart Academy on Long Island, New York. I currently received a research project having to do with brittle bone disease or otherwise known as osteoporosis. It would help me a great deal if you can take the time to answer the following questions or send me information relating to osteoporosis. Would you happen to know the recovery rate and the chance of it recurring? Also the name of the doctor you would see for the disease? And lastly, if it is a genetic, infectious, or congential disease. I would appreciate any information you may have pertaining to my project as soon as possible. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Tara

Thanks for your note, and before I say any more I want to reiterate that I am not a doctor nor am I a medical expert, so I hope that your question starts with me, but doesn't end here.

Osteoporsis is a disease that does affect more women--older women--and it has gotten more and more attention recently. There is actually an article at Feminist.com on osteoporosis, which can help you with some of the specifics of your question: Osteoporosis: What Do We Need to Know?

You can also learn more from the Boston Women's Health Book Collective and their book Ourselves Growing Older.

One point that I want to make is that recently doctors have been encouraging higher calcium intake among young women as a preventative measure. There is actually a center for Young Women's health at Children's Hospital Boston, and one of their priorities is curbing issues in women that begin when they are young--and osteoporosis is one of those issues.

—Amy