Running title: Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is characterized with low bone mass and deterioration of skeletal microarchitecture. It leads to a fragile bone and increased risk of fracture by minimal trauma. Today, osteoporotic fractures have become a major health concern. Therefore many different studies have been organized to enlighten basic pathology, and to investigate efficient therapeutic modalities. The change in the prescription attitudes in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increased the value of non-HRT therapies. The purpose of this review is to evaluate all therapeutic modalities which could be used in this setting by analyzing prospective randomized studies. By a general scope of view, the choice of treatment should be individualized with respect to age, risk factors, and concomitant disorders. In early menopause HRT can be used for women with severe vasomotor symptoms if there is no contraindication. Since no difference was noted between HRT and bisphosphonates, there is no need to combination regimens. After vasomotor symptoms are subsided, raloxifene can be used to the patients who have T score of below -2 without non-vertebral fracture. It is obvious that the most efficient therapies to prevent new osteoporotic fractures are bisphosphonates, strontium ranelate, and parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH should not be used longer than 24 months. The first two large series showed that strontium ranelate prevents fractures very effectively. In addition the side effects of this unique medication is not higher than placebo which is one of the major advantage of it. Many series identified the important role of bisphosphonates in the prevention of osteoporosis related morbidities. Calcitonin has a role in patients having pain. Daily calcium and vitamin D supplement should be recommended to all patients, and diet and exercise programmes should be organized.