Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMore Women Than Men Have Autoimmune DiseasesRisk FactorsAutoimmune Conditions Are Difficult to DiagnoseTypes of Autoimmune Diseases More Commonly Affecting WomenPreventionTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
More Women Than Men Have Autoimmune Diseases
Risk Factors
Autoimmune Conditions Are Difficult to Diagnose
Types of Autoimmune Diseases More Commonly Affecting Women
Prevention
Treatment
Autoimmune diseases, also known autoimmune disorders, are the third most common category of disease in the United States, after cancer and cardiovascular disease. An autoimmune disease happens when your immune system cannot tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells, causing the body to attack healthy cells. One study estimated that about 80% of all patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases are women. Scientists hypothesized that this may be related to genetic variations and hormonal changes. There are more than 100 types of autoimmune diseases, affecting more than 23.5 million Americans.
Laura Porter / Verywell
Research estimates that autoimmune diseases are twice as likely to affect women than men.The exact mechanism of autoimmune diseases remains unclear, but scientists have pinpointed two possible reasons why they are more common in women than in men:
Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with multiple autoimmune disorders.
An Overview of Endocrine Issues and Autoimmune Diseases
The known risk factors of autoimmune diseases in women include:
Causes and Risk Factors of Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases can be particularly difficult to diagnose because many of them share the same symptoms or have symptoms similar to other conditions. While there are blood marker tests and tissue biopsies that can be used to help diagnose certain conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves' disease, celiac disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, there is no singular test that can verify the presence of all autoimmune diseases.
It is common to begin the diagnosis process with a family healthcare provider and move on to a specialist.
Common Symptoms Across Autoimmune DiseasesDespite the varying types of autoimmune disease, many of them share similar symptoms, including:FatigueJoint pain and swellingSkin problemsAbdominal pain or digestive issuesRecurring feverSwollen glandsWomen should seek treatment when they notice new symptoms to identify or rule out an autoimmune disease early.
Common Symptoms Across Autoimmune Diseases
Despite the varying types of autoimmune disease, many of them share similar symptoms, including:FatigueJoint pain and swellingSkin problemsAbdominal pain or digestive issuesRecurring feverSwollen glandsWomen should seek treatment when they notice new symptoms to identify or rule out an autoimmune disease early.
Despite the varying types of autoimmune disease, many of them share similar symptoms, including:
Women should seek treatment when they notice new symptoms to identify or rule out an autoimmune disease early.
The following diseases affect more women than men and are listed from most to least common, according to Autoimmune Registry, a nonprofit that provides research, statistics, and patient data on all autoimmune diseases.
Psoriasis
Psoriasiscauses new skin cells that typically grow deep in your skin to rise to the surface and accumulate into what looks like red patches or scales. The prevalence of psoriasis in the United States is 8 to 12 million.
Symptoms include thick red patches, covered with scales, usually appearing on the head, elbows, and knees. Itching and pain, which can make it hard to sleep, walk, and care for yourself, also occur.
Plaque Psoriasis: Pictures and Symptoms of the Types You May See on Your Body
Celiac Disease
Symptoms include:
Symptoms of Celiac Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may be bloody.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Symptoms
Graves’ Disease
Graves’ disease occurs in those with overactive thyroid. Symptoms may or may not be present. The prevalence of Graves' disease in the United States is 1.2%.
What Does the Thyroid Gland Do?
Hashimoto’s Disease
Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, most commonly presents when the thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormones, though in some cases thyroid hormone levels are normal or even elevated. The prevalence of Hashimoto’s disease in the United States is reported to be 10% to 12%.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)refers to a disease in which the immune system attacks joint linings throughout the body. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States is 0.73% to 0.78% in women.
Primary symptoms include painful, stiff, swollen, and deformed joints and reduced movement and function.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Complications
Type 1 Diabetes
Intype 1 diabetes, your immune system attacks and inhibits the cells that make insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar). The result is too much sugar in your blood, which can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, kidney disease and other problems. Type 1 diabetes affects nearly 1.6 million people in the United States.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system attacks the protective coating around nerves. Like many other autoimmune diseases, symptoms can vary widely. The prevalence ofmultiple sclerosisin the United States is nearly 1 million.
People with MS usually have:
An Overview of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Alopecia Areata
While less of a threat to general health than other conditions on this list, havingalopecia areatameans your immune system attacks your hair follicles and this can be distressing to the person’s body image. The possible lifetime prevalence of alopecia areata in the United States is 2.51%.
Symptoms include patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, or other areas.
Alopecia Areata Self Care and Medical Treatment
Sjögren’s Disease
The immune system attacks the tear glands and salivary glands. Symptoms are therefore associated with excessive dryness. The prevalence ofSjögren’s diseasein the United States is 15%.
What Is Associated Sjögren’s Disease?
Vitiligo
People withvitiligohave immune systems that attack the cells responsible for skin pigmentation and those inside your mouth and nose. The prevalence of vitiligo in the United States is 0.5-2%.
What Is Skin Pigmentation?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Also referred to simply as lupus, this disease can damage primary organs like the heart, skin, lungs, kidneys, joints, and other areas. The prevalence ofsystemic lupus erythematosusin the United States is unknown but conservatively estimated to be between 161,000 and 322,000 cases per year.
Differences Between Lupus and MS
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (aPL)
Other symptoms include:
Primary Biliary Cholangitis
The immune system dysfunction in this disease slowly causes damage to the liver’s bile ducts, which are essential to proper digestion. As a result, bile accumulates, causing damage to the liver and eventually failure. The prevalence ofprimary biliary cholangitis(formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis) in the United States is 3%.
Autoimmune Hepatitis
In this disease, your immune system will not only attack but actively destroy liver cells, causing hardening, scarring, and even liver failure. The prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis in the United States is 2%.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Understanding the Many Types of Hemolytic Anemia
Scleroderma
This disease causes abnormal growth of connective tissues in the skin and blood vessels, leading to noticable changes in the skin’s appearance. The prevalence ofsclerodermain the United States is 1%.
Scleroderma Types, Pictures, and Symptoms
Myasthenia Gravis (MG)
The immune system attacks nerves and muscles throughout the body in this disease. The prevalence ofmyasthenia gravisin the United States is 1%.
Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis
Inflammatory Myopathies
This refers to a group of diseases that involve muscle inflammation and weakness. In women, the two most common types of myopathies arepolymyositisanddermatomyositis. The prevalence of inflammatory myopathies in the United States is below 1 %.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
InGuillain-Barre syndrome, your immune system attacks the nerves connecting your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body, which severely interferes with your muscles’ ability to respond to the brain’s signals. The prevalence of Guillain-Barre syndrome in the United States is below 1%.
Symptoms typically include weakness or tingling feeling in the legs that might spread to the upper body and paralysis in severe cases.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf you notice any new symptoms that could indicate an autoimmune disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, schedule regular follow-ups and check-ins. Having an ongoing communication about your experience can prove invaluable when coming up with and updating treatment plans.For more information about autoimmune diseases, call the Office on Women’s Health Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446).
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you notice any new symptoms that could indicate an autoimmune disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, schedule regular follow-ups and check-ins. Having an ongoing communication about your experience can prove invaluable when coming up with and updating treatment plans.For more information about autoimmune diseases, call the Office on Women’s Health Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446).
If you notice any new symptoms that could indicate an autoimmune disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, schedule regular follow-ups and check-ins. Having an ongoing communication about your experience can prove invaluable when coming up with and updating treatment plans.
For more information about autoimmune diseases, call the Office on Women’s Health Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446).
While treatment cannot cure an autoimmune disease, it can help reduce the risk of symptom flare-ups. The exact treatment plan depends on the condition.
Generally, the goals of treatment include:
A Word From Verywell
There are currently no cures for autoimmune diseases, so being diagnosed with one can be stressful and scary. Know that early diagnosis can help you start managing your condition as soon as possible. Disease-modifying medications for conditions like multiple sclerosis can slow down the progression of your disease and minimize the impact it has on your life.
Symptoms of autoimmune disease are often non-specific, so seek medical attention when you experience new symptoms like fatigue or joint stiffness. Remember that women (and men) with autoimmune diseases can still lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Desai M, Brinton R.Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00265.xAngum F, Khan T, Kaler J, Siddiqui L, Hussain A.The Prevalence of Autoimmune Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2020 May 13;12(5):e8094. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8094U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Autoimmune diseases.Global Autoimmune Institute.7 Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease.John Hopkins Medicine.What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease?Castiella A, Zapata E, Lucena MI, Andrade RJ.Drug-induced autoimmune liver disease: A diagnostic dilemma of an increasingly reported disease.World J Hepatol. 2014 Apr 27;6(4):160-8. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i4.160Autoimmune Registry.Autoimmune Diseases.King JA, Jeong J, Underwood FE, Quan J, Panaccione N, Windsor JW, Coward S, deBruyn J, Ronksley PE, Shaheen AA, Quan H.Incidence of celiac disease is increasing over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2020 Apr 1;115(4):507-25. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevalence (IBD) in the United States.Pokhrel B, Bhusal K.Graves Disease.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiersinga WM.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In: Vitti P., Hegedüs L. (eds) Thyroid Diseases. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45013-1_7Hunter TM, Boytsov NN, Zhang X, Schroeder K, Michaud K, Araujo AB.Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States adult population in healthcare claims databases, 2004-2014.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(9):1551-1557. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3726-1American Diabetes Association.Statistics About Diabetes.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.MS Prevalence.Benigno M, Anastassopoulos KP, Mostaghimi A, et al.A Large Cross-Sectional Survey Study of the Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the United States.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:259-266. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.2147/CCID.S245649Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A Review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi:10.1159/000506103Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Details.Duarte-García A, Pham MM, Crowson CS, et al.The Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Population-Based Study [published correction appears in Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Apr;72(4):597].Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(9):1545-1552. doi:10.1002/art.40901
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Desai M, Brinton R.Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00265.xAngum F, Khan T, Kaler J, Siddiqui L, Hussain A.The Prevalence of Autoimmune Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2020 May 13;12(5):e8094. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8094U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Autoimmune diseases.Global Autoimmune Institute.7 Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease.John Hopkins Medicine.What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease?Castiella A, Zapata E, Lucena MI, Andrade RJ.Drug-induced autoimmune liver disease: A diagnostic dilemma of an increasingly reported disease.World J Hepatol. 2014 Apr 27;6(4):160-8. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i4.160Autoimmune Registry.Autoimmune Diseases.King JA, Jeong J, Underwood FE, Quan J, Panaccione N, Windsor JW, Coward S, deBruyn J, Ronksley PE, Shaheen AA, Quan H.Incidence of celiac disease is increasing over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2020 Apr 1;115(4):507-25. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevalence (IBD) in the United States.Pokhrel B, Bhusal K.Graves Disease.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiersinga WM.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In: Vitti P., Hegedüs L. (eds) Thyroid Diseases. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45013-1_7Hunter TM, Boytsov NN, Zhang X, Schroeder K, Michaud K, Araujo AB.Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States adult population in healthcare claims databases, 2004-2014.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(9):1551-1557. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3726-1American Diabetes Association.Statistics About Diabetes.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.MS Prevalence.Benigno M, Anastassopoulos KP, Mostaghimi A, et al.A Large Cross-Sectional Survey Study of the Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the United States.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:259-266. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.2147/CCID.S245649Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A Review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi:10.1159/000506103Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Details.Duarte-García A, Pham MM, Crowson CS, et al.The Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Population-Based Study [published correction appears in Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Apr;72(4):597].Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(9):1545-1552. doi:10.1002/art.40901
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Desai M, Brinton R.Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00265.xAngum F, Khan T, Kaler J, Siddiqui L, Hussain A.The Prevalence of Autoimmune Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2020 May 13;12(5):e8094. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8094U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Autoimmune diseases.Global Autoimmune Institute.7 Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease.John Hopkins Medicine.What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease?Castiella A, Zapata E, Lucena MI, Andrade RJ.Drug-induced autoimmune liver disease: A diagnostic dilemma of an increasingly reported disease.World J Hepatol. 2014 Apr 27;6(4):160-8. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i4.160Autoimmune Registry.Autoimmune Diseases.King JA, Jeong J, Underwood FE, Quan J, Panaccione N, Windsor JW, Coward S, deBruyn J, Ronksley PE, Shaheen AA, Quan H.Incidence of celiac disease is increasing over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2020 Apr 1;115(4):507-25. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000523Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevalence (IBD) in the United States.Pokhrel B, Bhusal K.Graves Disease.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.Wiersinga WM.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In: Vitti P., Hegedüs L. (eds) Thyroid Diseases. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45013-1_7Hunter TM, Boytsov NN, Zhang X, Schroeder K, Michaud K, Araujo AB.Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States adult population in healthcare claims databases, 2004-2014.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(9):1551-1557. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3726-1American Diabetes Association.Statistics About Diabetes.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.MS Prevalence.Benigno M, Anastassopoulos KP, Mostaghimi A, et al.A Large Cross-Sectional Survey Study of the Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the United States.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:259-266. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.2147/CCID.S245649Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A Review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi:10.1159/000506103Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Details.Duarte-García A, Pham MM, Crowson CS, et al.The Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Population-Based Study [published correction appears in Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Apr;72(4):597].Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(9):1545-1552. doi:10.1002/art.40901
Desai M, Brinton R.Autoimmune Disease in Women: Endocrine Transition and Risk Across the Lifespan.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00265.x
Angum F, Khan T, Kaler J, Siddiqui L, Hussain A.The Prevalence of Autoimmune Disorders in Women: A Narrative Review.Cureus. 2020 May 13;12(5):e8094. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8094
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health.Autoimmune diseases.
Global Autoimmune Institute.7 Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease.
John Hopkins Medicine.What Are Common Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease?
Castiella A, Zapata E, Lucena MI, Andrade RJ.Drug-induced autoimmune liver disease: A diagnostic dilemma of an increasingly reported disease.World J Hepatol. 2014 Apr 27;6(4):160-8. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i4.160
Autoimmune Registry.Autoimmune Diseases.
King JA, Jeong J, Underwood FE, Quan J, Panaccione N, Windsor JW, Coward S, deBruyn J, Ronksley PE, Shaheen AA, Quan H.Incidence of celiac disease is increasing over time: a systematic review and meta-analysis.American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2020 Apr 1;115(4):507-25. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000523
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Inflammatory Bowel Disease Prevalence (IBD) in the United States.
Pokhrel B, Bhusal K.Graves Disease.In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Wiersinga WM.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. In: Vitti P., Hegedüs L. (eds) Thyroid Diseases. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. 2018. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45013-1_7
Hunter TM, Boytsov NN, Zhang X, Schroeder K, Michaud K, Araujo AB.Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the United States adult population in healthcare claims databases, 2004-2014.Rheumatol Int. 2017;37(9):1551-1557. doi:10.1007/s00296-017-3726-1
American Diabetes Association.Statistics About Diabetes.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.MS Prevalence.
Benigno M, Anastassopoulos KP, Mostaghimi A, et al.A Large Cross-Sectional Survey Study of the Prevalence of Alopecia Areata in the United States.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:259-266. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.2147/CCID.S245649
Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K.Vitiligo: A Review.Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571-592. doi:10.1159/000506103
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Details.
Duarte-García A, Pham MM, Crowson CS, et al.The Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Population-Based Study [published correction appears in Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Apr;72(4):597].Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71(9):1545-1552. doi:10.1002/art.40901
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