Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle – so brittle that a fall or even a mild stress like bending over or coughing could cause a fracture.  These fractures are most common in the hip, wrist or spine. Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races, but White and Asian women, especially who are past menopause, as at the highest risk. There are no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss, but after osteoporosis is present you may have symptoms like back pain caused by a fractured vertebrae, loss of height, stooped posture or a bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected.