Hormonal changes play a big role in how autoimmune diseases behave, especially through hormones that are linked to sex.
Gender Differences: Autoimmune diseases happen more often in females. The ratio is about 3 women for every 1 man who gets these diseases.
Estrogen's Effect: Estrogen, a key female hormone, can boost how the immune system works. This can make some diseases worse, like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which affects around 1.5 million people in the U.S.
Menopause Changes: Women who have gone through menopause might find their autoimmune symptoms get better because their estrogen levels drop. But, it’s common for diseases to flare up during hormonal changes, like during periods or pregnancy.
Thyroid Issues: Diseases like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis show how hormones can have an effect. For instance, estrogen might increase the production of certain antibodies in the thyroid, affecting almost 1 out of every 3 women.
Cytokines and Hormones: Hormones can influence things called cytokines (like IL-6 and TNF-alpha). These are important because they affect inflammation and how the immune system works.
Hormonal changes play a big role in how autoimmune diseases behave, especially through hormones that are linked to sex.
Gender Differences: Autoimmune diseases happen more often in females. The ratio is about 3 women for every 1 man who gets these diseases.
Estrogen's Effect: Estrogen, a key female hormone, can boost how the immune system works. This can make some diseases worse, like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), which affects around 1.5 million people in the U.S.
Menopause Changes: Women who have gone through menopause might find their autoimmune symptoms get better because their estrogen levels drop. But, it’s common for diseases to flare up during hormonal changes, like during periods or pregnancy.
Thyroid Issues: Diseases like Graves’ disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis show how hormones can have an effect. For instance, estrogen might increase the production of certain antibodies in the thyroid, affecting almost 1 out of every 3 women.
Cytokines and Hormones: Hormones can influence things called cytokines (like IL-6 and TNF-alpha). These are important because they affect inflammation and how the immune system works.