Isabel Johnson, 64 years old, picked up a brochure on osteoporosis at her local pharmacy. What she read about the “silent disease” concerned her. She learned that she had several of the risk factors: she had gone through menopause at an early age, and her mother had suffered several fractures in her seventies and eighties.

Isabel called her neighbor, a registered nurse, who suggested that she call the NIH Resource Center for information on how to find an appropriate physician.

Our experience reveals that, for many individuals, finding a doctor who is knowledgeable about osteoporosis can be problematic. There is no physician specialty dedicated to osteoporosis, nor is there a certification program for health professionals who treat the disease. Therefore, a variety of medical specialists are treating people with osteoporosis, including internists, gynecologists, family physicians, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, physiatrists, and orthopedists.

There are a number of ways to find a doctor who treats osteoporosis patients. If you have a primary care physician or a family doctor, discuss your concerns with him or her. Your doctor may be able to refer you to an osteoporosis specialist.

If you are enrolled in an HMO or managed care health plan, consult your assigned physician about osteoporosis. This doctor should be able to give you an appropriate referral.

If you do not have a personal physician or your doctor cannot help you, you should contact your nearest university hospital or academic health center and ask for the department that cares for patients with osteoporosis. The department will vary from institution to institution. For example, in some facilities, the department of endocrinology or metabolic bone disease treats osteoporosis patients. In other medical centers, the appropriate department may be rheumatology, orthopedics, or gynecology. Some hospitals have a separate osteoporosis program or women's clinic that treats osteoporosis patients.

Once you have identified a doctor, you may wish to inquire about such things as whether the physician has specialized training in osteoporosis, how much of the practice is dedicated to osteoporosis, and whether he or she makes use of bone mass measurement.

Your own doctor, whether a gynecologist, orthopedist, or internist, is often the best person to treat you because she or he knows your medical history, your lifestyle, and your special needs.

Endocrinologists treat the endocrine system, which comprises the glands and hormones that help control the body’s metabolic activity. In addition to osteoporosis, endocrinologists also treat diabetes and thyroid and pituitary diseases.

Family physicians have a broad range of training that includes surgery, internal medicine, gynecology, and pediatrics. They place special emphasis on caring for an individual or family on a long-term, continuing basis.

Geriatricians are family physicians or internists who have received additional training on the aging process and the conditions and diseases which often occur among the elderly, including incontinence, falls, and dementia. Geriatricians often care for patients in nursing homes, the patient’s home, or in office or hospital settings.

Gynecologists diagnose and treat conditions of the female reproductive system and associated disorders. They often serve as primary care physicians for women, and follow their patients’ reproductive health over time.

Internists are trained in the essentials of overall care of general internal medicine. Internists diagnose and treat non-surgically all diseases of the body. They provide long-term comprehensive care in the hospital and office, developing expertise in many areas, and often act as consultants to other specialists.

Orthopedic surgeons are physicians trained in the care of patients with musculoskeletal problems. Congenital skeletal deformities, skeletal trauma and infections, and metabolic disturbances are within the purview of orthopedists.

Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists evaluate and treat patients with impairments, disabilities, or pain arising from musculoskeletal, neurologic, or other system problems. Physiatrists focus on restoring the physical, psychological, social and vocational functioning of the individual.

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons, including arthritis and collagen diseases. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopedists, physiatrists, and physical therapists.