Menopause and Bone Health: When Should You Have an Assessment?
Menopause is a useful time to review bone health. Learn which risk factors to discuss, when DXA may be appropriate, and where Bindex screening fits.
BONE HEALTH & OSTEOPOROSIS RISK ASSESSMENT
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Risk Assessment in Hillingdon
Understand your osteoporosis risk in around 20 minutes.
Your £89 appointment includes a personal risk assessment, Bindex ultrasound where suitable, and clear next steps.
Bindex is different from a DXA bone-density scan. Further investigation may still be needed.
Prefer to speak to us? Call Hillingdon on 01895 272571.
- £89
- Around 20 minutes
- No GP referral needed
Using Bindex® pulse-echo ultrasound technology.
No radiation
Uses ultrasound technology
Around 20 minutes
Quick, straightforward appointment
Immediate result
Discussed during your appointment
Clinician-led
Clear explanation and next steps
On this page
Who should discuss their bone health?
If any of these apply, speak to our team about the right bone-health assessment for you. These are reasons to review your risk, rather than automatic eligibility for a Bindex scan.
Not sure which test you need? We check suitability before scanning. Age, sex, background, medicines and previous results matter; men and younger adults should contact us before booking.
Ask about suitability — 01895 272571
Menopause or early menopause
Hormonal changes can affect bone strength, particularly after menopause.
Family history
Tell us if a parent has had a hip fracture or osteoporosis runs in your family.
Long-term steroid tablets
Oral steroids and some other medicines can affect bone health. Do not stop prescribed medicines.
Low body weight
A low BMI or a history of an eating disorder can increase bone-health concerns.
Relevant health conditions
Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or coeliac disease can affect bone health.
Getting older
Bone strength changes with age. Your other risk factors help determine whether assessment is needed.
Previous fracture or diagnosed osteoporosis?
If you have broken a bone after a minor fall or impact, already have osteoporosis, or need treatment monitoring, speak to your GP or fracture liaison team. A private screening scan should not delay that care or replace a clinically required DXA.Athletic training or use of weight-loss medication alone does not establish that Bindex is the right test for you.
NHS: osteoporosis risk factors · Menopause and bone-health assessmentWhat your £89 assessment includes
Leave with your result explained and a clear next step. Your £89 appointment includes a review of your relevant health history and medicines, a Bindex ultrasound measurement where suitable, and personalised advice on what to do next. We explain whether GP review or further investigation may be appropriate. Further tests and treatment are not included.
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Risk Assessment
£89
- Bone health risk assessment
- Bindex® ultrasound scan
- Immediate result
- Healthcare professional explanation
- Personalised next-step advice
- Guidance on further investigation where appropriate
- In as quick as 20 minutes
What does Bindex measure?
Bindex uses ultrasound at the tibia (shinbone) to estimate cortical bone thickness. The software combines the measurement with information such as age, height and weight to calculate a Density Index associated with hip bone mineral density.
It helps assess osteoporosis probability; it does not directly measure the hip and spine as DXA does. The result needs interpretation alongside your history and risk factors.
Read NICE’s Bindex technology briefing or our guide to Bindex assessments.
Your journey with Puri Pharmacy
See how the consultation, shin measurement and discussion of results fit together.
How the bone health assessment works
A straightforward process, designed around you.
Start with your consultation
We'll discuss your health, lifestyle and relevant risk factors, and confirm that the assessment is suitable for you.
Have your Bindex® scan
A short, painless ultrasound measurement is performed on your shin. There are no injections and no ionising radiation.
Understand your result
Your result is available during your appointment. We'll explain what it means and discuss appropriate next steps.
Before your appointment
- Wear loose trousers or clothing that allows access to your shin below the knee.
- Bring a current medicines list and details of previous fractures, osteoporosis assessments or DXA results.
- Tell us about any injury or problem affecting the leg to be measured.
The healthcare professional applies ultrasound gel to the measurement area and uses a handheld probe against your shin. Your appointment includes time to discuss your history and result.
Read our guide to preparing for your bone-health assessment.
Do I need a DXA scan?
Both can play an important role in understanding your bone health, but they are different tests.
Bone Health Assessment
- Radiation-free ultrasound
- Performed at Puri Pharmacy
- Immediate osteoporosis probability assessment
- No GP referral required
- Around 20 minutes
- Helps assess osteoporosis probability
DXA Scan
- Uses low-dose X-rays
- Measures bone density at the hip and spine
- Used for formal assessment and monitoring
- Usually performed in specialist imaging facilities
- May be recommended where further investigation is required
- Formal BMD measurement
- Usually requires referral/private imaging
Why choose Puri Pharmacy?
Your medicines and history considered
We discuss relevant medicines, previous fractures and risk factors alongside your measurement.
Results explained during your visit
Understand what your result suggests, its limitations and whether further assessment may be appropriate.
Local and convenient
Appointments at our Hillingdon clinic
Practical next-step advice
Discuss ways to support your bone health and when to seek GP review or further investigation.
Ask our pharmacist about your bone health
Ask our pharmacy team whether Bindex is suitable for you, how it differs from DXA, and what happens if further investigation is recommended. Your result should be considered alongside your history, medicines and other risk factors.
Rahul Puri
Understanding osteoporosis and looking after your bones
Osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the likelihood of fractures. It can develop without obvious symptoms. Age, menopause, family history, some medicines and certain medical conditions can influence risk.
Weight-bearing activity, resistance exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D, and avoiding smoking can support bone health. Advice should be adapted to your circumstances, particularly if you have had a fracture or have osteoporosis.
NHS osteoporosis information · NHS bone-health advice · Royal Osteoporosis Society
Bone health guides
Understand the assessment, compare tests and explore the questions that matter for your bone health.
Bindex vs DXA (DEXA): Which Bone Health Test Do You Need?
Bindex screening and DXA scans measure different things. Compare their roles, learn why a screening result does not replace a clinically required DXA, and know what to ask before choosing a bone-health assessment.
What Is a Bindex® Bone Health Assessment? UK Guide
If you have recently heard about Bindex® bone health assessments, you may be wondering what the technology actually measures and how it
Frequently asked questions
Here are detailed answers to the frequently asked questions about our Bone screening service.
What is a Bindex scan?
A Bindex® scan is a quick, radiation-free ultrasound assessment that measures the cortical bone thickness at your tibia (shinbone). The device combines this measurement with your age, height, and weight to calculate a Density Index — a proxy for hip bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by DXA. It is designed to help identify your probability of osteoporosis in around 20 minutes.
Is Bindex the same as a DXA scan?
No, they are different tests. DXA is the established gold standard for measuring bone mineral density using low-dose X-rays at the hip and spine, and is used for formal diagnosis and monitoring. Bindex® is a portable, radiation-free ultrasound device used as a first-line risk assessment to identify whether further investigation with DXA may be appropriate. Bindex® does not replace DXA where a DXA is clinically required.
Does the scan hurt?
No, the scan is completely painless. It is a non-invasive ultrasound measurement performed on your shin, with no injections or needles involved. The transducer is simply moved over the measurement site after ultrasound gel is applied.
Does Bindex use radiation?
Bindex uses ultrasound and does not expose you to ionising radiation. The scan is a non-invasive measurement of the shin.
How long does the appointment take?
The full appointment takes around 20 minutes, including the consultation, measurement and explanation of your result.
Will I receive my result immediately?
Your Bindex result is available during the appointment. We explain what it suggests about osteoporosis probability and discuss it alongside your risk factors. A reassuring result does not rule out every cause of fragile bones or future fractures.
What happens if my result suggests increased risk?
We will explain whether medical review or further investigation, including DXA, may be appropriate. Treatment decisions require a full clinical assessment; a Bindex result alone is not a promise of diagnosis or prescribing.
Can men have a Bindex assessment?
Men can develop osteoporosis too. Contact the team to discuss suitability: eligibility and interpretation depend on your individual circumstances and the device’s intended use. Results should not be assumed to have identical performance in every population.
Bone health assessments in Hillingdon
Our bone health assessments take place at Puri Pharmacy Hillingdon only. Check the route and appointment availability before travelling.
Planning your visit: service appointment times can differ from pharmacy opening hours. Call Hillingdon on 01895 272571 about parking, accessibility or assistance before setting off.
Hillingdon clinic
165 Ryefield Avenue
Hillingdon, UB10 9DA
Looking for a bone health assessment near Uxbridge, Ickenham or Hayes? Our Hillingdon clinic offers in-person appointments. This service is not available at Southall.
What patients say about Puri Pharmacy
These Google reviews describe patients’ experiences across our pharmacy services. They are general pharmacy feedback, rather than reviews specifically of bone-health screening.
Book your bone-health assessment
If the booking calendar does not load, please contact our team to book your appointment.
Understand your bone health. Know your next step.
Your healthcare professional will explain the result clearly.