DEXA or DXA stands for “Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry,” which is a type of bone density technology. The DEXA machine takes a picture of your bones and calculates their density. Physicians commonly choose DEXA because it uses a low level of radiation (about the same as you would get on a flight from New York to Los Angeles), but detects low levels of bone loss much better than a simple X-ray. After your first scan, you should get one every one to two years to measure changes in your bone density.
