It’s one of the great mysteries of science, and one that affects the lives of millions of people: Why do women’s immune systems gang up on us far more than men’s do, causing far more women to develop autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which our bodies are attacked by their own immune systems. There are many types of such disorders, the most frequent being lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and sclerosis. Women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune diseases and many women are first diagnosed during and after menopause.
What exactly is the link between menopause and autoimmunity? Research suggests that the hormone estrogen is linked to certain immune factors, and the decrease in estrogen during menopause can affect the immune system.
We don’t know the complete interplay of menopause with other diseases, HRT, and other disease pathways. For example, some autoimmune diseases get better after menopause, but not all. Despite the number of people who have autoimmune disorders, there is a lot less money spent researching it. This is particularly true of the effect of menopause and other hormonal shifts on these disorders, despite the fact they overwhelmingly occur in women and affect our quality of life.
Caria Community: Have you experienced an autoimmunity health issue before, during, or after menopause?
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25Real experiences shared by the community, from the original discussion to today.
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Ang6 years ago
I’d love to hear from others, I’ve no formal autoimmune diagnosis but every month, triggered by the onset of my period I feel seriously compromised. It’s pretty common for cold sores to appear and generally I fall in a heap.
Tired but Hopeful6 years ago
Ummm yup. I’m 46 now and have been dealing with hybrid of chronic Lyme; then chronic fatigue; and now diagnosed with fibromyalgia—my body has felt like it’s been fighting against me for as long as I can remember but these acute symptoms started when I was 34 yrs old—suddenly no libido and cluster migraines. I started skipping periods when I was 41 or 42...and now am fully in peri. So it’s hard to tease out what is causing: my joint pain, brain fog, dry eyes, dry skin and dry mouth and mostly—the most predominant one—fatigue and lack of energy. I go for my initial meeting with a functional medicine doc and his team in 2 weeks so I’m gearing up for some major lifestyle changes and am excited and hopeful they can help guide me over the next year plus!
Kk5 years ago
Same
Kk5 years ago
Everthing you said. I'm having exact same and feeling all of those symptoms and I'm right there with you. I was previously diagnoised with all the autoimmune conditons then period got a lot lighter then no consistency for about 6 months. Then periods diminished altogether. The past year with that i started having trouble with my heart which i know now is chronic.
Carlynreplying to Kk4 years ago
Gosh. I’m having some of the same symptoms with dry eyes, brain fog and occasional heart palpitations. I also feel like so get hot flashes every hour. I’ve never had heart problems, but these palpitations are unnerving. Also am told my white blood cell count is now low. Another peri symptom? My ears ring frequently which one doctor told me a while back that’s it’s an indication of inflammation. I’ve also beef dealing with wicked post nasal drip that makes my throat soar from coughing it up. That’s besides the million other lovely symptoms. Caria is awesome - before it, I wondered what the heck was happening to this body and I’m so relieved to know I am definitely not alone! I hope many of these things are temporary. I started noticing symptoms 2-3 years ago. Im 45 now. We’re in this together!
Andrea6 years ago
Since going through a surgical menopause at 42, I seem to get every infection going.The worst for me to date ,Swine flu, recently COVID.I have lost count of other illness.Im 56, never taken HRT.The reason for that is we have a high rate of breast cancer in the family. HRT caused my mother to have frequent lumps in her breasts, most had to be aspirated.I now use cream for vaginal dryness and herbal tablets for the menopause.
Warty6 years ago
I have coeliac disease and was diagnosed quite late at aged 33. The weight loss was huge - I thought I had something more sinister! I had a Vaginal repair with mesh/tape about 5 years before my diagnosis and had a para- abnormal ovarian cyst (benign but changing ) removed shortly before being diagnosed with coeliac disease too. I During the next 10 years I developed peri- menopausal symptoms hot flushes/mood swings/periods every 3 weeks etc. By the time I was 46 my periods had completely stopped. Now I’m 54 and my hayfever which I did not have when I was younger is with me nearly most of the spring and summer. I find food stuffs in the related group also cause tickly mouth or dairy recently, throat swelling. I’ve had terrible bouts of low mood which lifts as suddenly as it came and the anxiety has also appeared out of no-where. It makes sense it’s hormonal as I do not normally suffer from either.
Karen6 years ago
I have Oral Lichen Planus which started during the menopause. Im using hrt patches at the moment and hoping it will make a difference to my lichen planus.
Caroline6 years ago
I have Hashimoto and I know it affected my fertility so could affect menopause.
JJ6 years ago
I have autoimmune Graves, Meniere's Disease, psoriasis, CFS, fibromyalgia, thyroid eye disease, arthritis and had a partial hysterectomy due to adenomyosis. All happened after turning 30 with most after age 40. I also had Epstein Barr at age 42. ? I’m a hot mess!
Stace6 years ago
Yep. Hashimoto’s ??♀️ I developed it after having my second child 13 years ago. I am a carpenter and I never know if my joint pain is work related, peri menopausal or thyroid related. Some days I just wish I was someone else. ?
Sunny6 years ago
Endometriosis. They can take their time deciding whether to add this to the list of autoimmune diseases but as far as I’m concerned it is. Took 22 years of the disease including 4 operations before getting a diagnosis or even a mention of the disease. An ultrasound nurse asked me if I had it. I went home looked it up online and knew that was my life for all my adulthood. Still not sure if I should really have gone on HRT as information is vague, but I would have gone crazy without it.
Jennifer6 years ago
Yes oral licked planas
Karen6 years ago
It’s no fun having oral lichen planus. I've just started on a hrt patch hoping it will help. Do you take any hrt Jennifer? X
Lou6 years ago
I’m now 40 - I have had Psoriasis since my early teens and was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 31. I have a Mirena coil fitted so am unsure what is going on with my periods now. Other symptoms could be autoimmune or menopause related...who knows?!
Gill6 years ago
I’m 55, and menopausal. For the last few years, I’ve had chronic idiopathic urticaria, or hives with no known cause. Hives, as a one off, are an allergic reaction. Almost constant or recurrent hives, which I have, are as a result of my body overreacting and they can be autoimmune. I take large doses of antihistamine which keep it somewhat under control. I’m pretty certain that menopausal hormone fluctuations kicked it off.
Natasha5 years ago
I have a family with a long history of Celiac Disease. I knew I had the gene, but Peri-menopause was the switch. I am now lactose intolerant now.
Kk5 years ago
Yes I have actually been diagnosed with auto-immune disease about a year Before any other real symptoms of Perimenopause came up. I just knew by the way I was feeling I was going thru it or at least starting to go thru something out of the ordinary. I’m suffering a great deal with my health and it surely hasn’t made anything easier on me on my kids who don’t understand. Trying to find some holistic approachs to all of this. I know especially for me; I need to do a cleanse and start putting better organic juices in my body. I have to try to start by healing thru foods and takin all the toxins out. I then have to get my body doing some type of exercise. My energy has just diminished so badly! Ugh so frustrating. But needless the say. I was having every symptoms you could imagine and some started clearing up like acne on face and body which I never had before. Hair following out, excessive oily skin, not wanting to eat due to my chronic fatigue and how it would digest in my system. Headaches. Joint pain, hot flashes, thirsty. And believe me they did a full blood work up on me. So praying this will end soon and I will keep having the support from you wonderful ladies! It has led me to one big self discovery “it’s my time to find my passion and purpose” and to figure out what truly makes me happy and if I find someone in the meantime, I’ve decided I’m not going to be so straightforward with them like I usually am instead they are going to have to show me why they are worth it! And I don’t mean this candidly, I mean this in a way that we as women have to take care is ourselves first and find our Passions then when we do meet someone hopefully they will complement me as I hope to do for them. I just have a question; when did you ladies start having symptoms, types of symptoms, duration, and where you confused as first as I was?
Katherine5 years ago
Yes I am 52 and I have noticed changes since the start of menopausal symptoms , about several years ago... I have quite a long list of food sensitivities, dry Eyes blepharitis, skin rash, digestive issues, definitely a drastic change occurred during the start of transition.
DEE5 years ago
I’ve had irritable bowel symptoms ( which is linked to a poor immune system) my Dr took me off HRT ?at 55..why because research shows women between 35-55 can have a higher risk of cervical and breast cancer. ?!? He ignores research that shows women of my age 63 and have had a total hysterectomy, can show benefits of low doses?♀️)After 8 years of this I am exhausted, fatigued ,ache all the time , have headaches as I’m constantly dehydrated, no libido! dryness everywhere.. blah blah ..terrible day and night sweats( up to three/ four times an hour which leave me embarrassed when out socialising as I’m dripping sweat and can’t concentrate on what anyone is saying as I’m in a hothouse hell! These are Sweats which just aren’t oh gosh is it hot in here.. but more of your dripping wet furnace types.... night times are horrendous as I can’t sleep despite having two fans going , and only have a 4.5 duvet( if I cool down? and ever have it on me) Hubby can’t sleep next to me so we have separate rooms...BTW this is autumn/winter season in Scotland, and I’m still in teeshirt a!? .I’ve had this now for 8 long years. Doc has said my thyroid is low has me on thyroxine and anti depressants for emotional highs and lows ?♀️Sound familiar ? I have a phone call spot next week .. bet I come off the phone no further forward!
Jamie5 years ago
Absolutely. I have RA, Lupus and chronic Lyme disease. Currently in surgical menopause.
Sarah5 years ago
I have gone into early menopause after having cervical cancer (I’m only 33) I have been having autoimmune problems for the past 2 years, in May, it will be a year since I was diagnosed with cancer. I have found that I now can’t differentiate what is causing which symptoms as they have all seemed to roll into one.
Jenn5 years ago
Yes, sadly. I deal with hypothyroidism, scalp psoriasis (which my dermatologist thinks I may have developed psoriatic arthritis, but I’m beginning to think it is perimenopause related), and I have developed vitiligo. Very frustrating, but my nutritionist says auto-immune issues are related to leaky gut. I have eliminated gluten; now, I am working on cutting out all sugars (tough because sugar is in so many things) and alcohol. Not to mention, I’m only 49! ?
Carlyn4 years ago
I definitely notice changes when I eliminate sugar. I need to cleanse again and eat more whole fruits snd green leafy veggies
Joan3 years ago
Wow I am stunned at the connection between Menopause and these conditions! I too have fibromyalgia , chronic fatigue, hyperthyroidism, guttate psoriasis , dry eyes, dry mouth- I also have type 2 diabetes, non alcoholic fatty liver disease & angiolipomas although not sure if these also count?- but no doctor nurse or consultant has ever suggested that these conditions could be related to the menopause! I knew that a lot of the symptoms were common but never thought that menopause might be the cause. There needs to be some joined up thinking- surely part of the problem is that each condition is treated in isolation & a more holistic approach would be more effective?