Update on primary osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder encountered in clinical practice. It is also one of the most important diseases facing our aging population. In the United States alone, an estimated 1.5 million fractures that occur annually are attributed to osteoporosis, and they account for an estimated $13 billion annually. With the projected increase in life expectancy for the global population, osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures have the potential to become an even larger health-care problem in the future. This article focuses on the evaluation and treatment of primary osteoporosis in women.