"What gets measured gets improved."
— Peter Drucker
Bone loss is silent. DXA gives it a voice—before a fracture does.
No one told you that bone mass peaks at 35.
No one told you that by menopause, you've already started losing significant bone mass.
No one told you that osteoporosis doesn't start at 65—it starts decades earlier, silently.
Bone loss is silent.
Until it's a fracture.
Until it's chronic pain.
Until it's a fall that changes everything.
DXA gives it a voice—before a fracture does.
When insurance doesn't cover something you care about, you find a way.
You don't let insurance decide whether you can invest in how you look. Don't let them decide whether you can invest in how you age.
A DXA scan costs ~$150.
It takes 15 minutes.
That's less than one Botox session—and it tells you whether your skeleton will hold you up for the next 40 years.
You think wrinkles make you look old.
A walker makes you look old.
Mammogram + DXA at 40. No exceptions.
We've done an excellent job teaching women that early detection matters. You know when to start mammograms because breast cancer screening saves lives. Bone health deserves the same respect.
Osteoporosis affects more women than heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke—combined1.
Bone loss is just as silent, just as progressive, and just as impactful on long-term health and independence.
Learn How to Get Your ScanA DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan is a quick, painless test that measures your bone mineral density. It's the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis and assessing fracture risk.
If your clinician won't order a DXA, that's not a reflection of your risk—it's a failure of our system to prioritize prevention.
"You're too young for a bone density scan."
Peak bone mass is achieved before menopause. Waiting until 65 means missing decades of prevention opportunity.
"Insurance won't cover it until you're older."
A DXA scan costs ~$150. You already pay out of pocket for things insurance doesn't cover—this should be one of them.
"You don't have any risk factors."
Being female is a risk factor. Menopause is a risk factor. GLP-1 medications are now a risk factor. You deserve to know your baseline regardless.
"We only test if there's a problem."
That's not prevention—that's waiting for a fracture. You shouldn't have to break a bone to earn the right to be measured.
You have the right to advocate for your own health. If your doctor pushes back, you don't need to accept "no" as the final answer.
Be direct. Be informed. Be persistent.
"I understand the guidelines say 65, but I want a baseline measurement now—while I can still do something about it. I'm willing to pay out of pocket if insurance doesn't cover it. Will you order the scan, or can you refer me to someone who will?"
Prevention shouldn't depend on geography. Knowledge shouldn't require permission.
Come see us directly and get a DXA through Dexology at the Bone Health Clinic—no waiting, no gatekeeping. Walk in informed, walk out empowered.
Book at DexologyMessage us and tell us where you're located. We'll help you understand your options and advocate for access where you live. Telehealth coming soon.
Get on the ListWe normalized breast cancer screening by talking about it—openly, loudly, and early. It's time to do the same for bone health.
Join the MovementJoin thousands of women taking control of their bone health. Sign up to receive resources, updates, and advocacy tools.
MD, Clinical Director of the Bone Health Clinic
Dr. Shannon Carpenter founded Demand the Scan™ because she was tired of watching women fall through the cracks of a system that treats prevention as an afterthought.
After years of seeing patients only after their first fracture—when the damage was already done—she knew something had to change. Not the science (we've known for decades that early screening saves bones and lives), but the access.
At the Bone Health Clinic in Kansas City, Dr. Carpenter created Dexology: a direct path to DXA scans without the gatekeeping, the waiting, or the dismissive "you're too young." Now, through Demand the Scan™, she's working to expand that access nationwide—with a vision to build bone health clinics in every community, so no woman has to fight for the care she deserves.
Strong bones don't happen by accident. They're built by women who demand better.
Dr. Carpenter dreams of a world where her daughter Addy will never have to fight for her bone health—and she's building it.
We recommend getting a baseline DXA scan at 40—the same time you schedule your first mammogram. If you have risk factors (family history, early menopause, certain medications, eating disorders, low body weight), consider scanning even earlier.
Most insurance covers DXA scans for women 65+ or those with specific risk factors. If you're younger and don't meet their criteria, a scan typically costs $75-150 out of pocket. We believe this is a worthwhile investment in your future.
You have options. Ask them to document the refusal in your chart. Seek a second opinion. Or visit a direct-access facility like Dexology where you can get a scan without a referral. You shouldn't need permission to know your own body.
Yes. One in two women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Hip fractures in particular are devastating—20% of hip fracture patients die within a year, and many never regain their independence. This is preventable.
Both! Before menopause, you can still build bone with the right combination of weight-bearing exercise, nutrition, and sometimes medication. After menopause, the focus shifts to preserving what you have. Either way, knowing your baseline is the first step.
Your results will show a T-score comparing your bone density to a healthy 30-year-old. Based on that number, you and your healthcare provider can create a plan—whether that's lifestyle changes, supplements, medication, or simply monitoring over time.
Sign up for our movement and tell us where you're located. We're building resources to help women advocate for access everywhere. We're also launching telehealth services soon to provide guidance and support regardless of geography.
We use "demand" because asking politely hasn't worked. Women have been told to wait, dismissed as "too young," and denied access to basic preventive care for too long. It's time to stop asking and start expecting the care we deserve.