Osteoporosis is a chronic bone disorder which occurs when the bones become more porous and fragile, and hence more likely to break. 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 in Ireland will fracture a bone because of Osteoporosis in their lifetime. In Ireland, there are approximately 5 times as many fractures due to osteoporosis every year now as there was in the 1960’s. This is expected to double again in the next 20 years.