Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease of the skeletal system. As a result the bones become weak and more prone to fracture. No one really knows what causes the disease. There is no cure. There are several treatment methods available to slow the progression of the disease and to help prevent against fracture, or further fractures. Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease. This is because osteoporosis can begin at any time and in its early stages produces no symptoms. Often osteoporosis goes unnoticed and untreated until a painful break occurs.