by Nestor Heraña Jr., MD, FACP
Autoimmune diseases are health disorders that occur when your immune system attacks your body instead of defending it.
The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against diseases by recognizing and destroying foreign entities like bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances.
Autoimmune diseases are common, especially because there are so many different types.
Some of which are in the form of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, thyroid disorders (Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), myasthenia gravis, scleroderma, and vasculitis.
Autoimmune diseases can cause a wide variety of symptoms. They can affect your body at almost every part from head to toe. Thus, symptoms depend on the specific affected area.
Yes, women are more prone to autoimmune disorders. It is estimated that around 1 in 15 people in the U.S. has an autoimmune disease.
Scientific studies consistently show that the majority of autoimmune diseases occur more frequently in women, with estimates suggesting that up to 80% of affected individuals are female.
There are multiple reasons for this gender bias. This is due to a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, immunological, and environmental factors.
Females have two X chromosomes. The presence of this is a major contributor. This results in abnormal regulation of certain genes related to the immune system.
Sex hormones, especially estrogen, further modulate immune responses. Estrogen enhances pro-inflammatory immune activity and lowers autoimmune regulation.
This amounts to increased susceptibility to autoimmunity.
Women exhibit stronger lymphocyte activation and cytokine production, resulting in stronger immune responses, with higher antibody levels further predisposing them to loss of self-tolerance.
The female predominance of autoimmune disorders is most pronounced during reproductive years, implicating hormonal fluctuations as a major driver, but genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are also essential.
Endocrine transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause further influence immune function and disease risk in women.
Environmental factors, including viral exposures, drugs, toxins, and lifestyle changes, may also interact with these genetic and hormonal mechanisms to further increase the risk of autoimmunity in women.
The cumulative effect of these factors results in a higher prevalence and severity of autoimmune diseases in females.
There is no well-established prevention or cure for autoimmune diseases. But there are treatments available. The management depends on the symptom and the specific disorder.
The treatments are long-term since the condition typically lasts a lifetime. Some autoimmune diseases enter remission, with a long period of time between symptom flares.
This is not the same as a cure, but it might mean the symptoms impacting the patient’s daily routine and activities are less pronounced.
In summary, the female predisposition to autoimmune disorders is driven by X-linked genetic factors, estrogen-mediated immune modulation, and sex-specific differences in immune function and tolerance.
To get more information, your health care provider is the best source regarding inquiries and concerns related to your medical problem.
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