Autoimmune Disease & Women

Did you know that women are more likely to have an autoimmune disease than men?

As many as 4 out of 5 people with an autoimmune disease are women.

What is an autoimmune disease?

An autoimmune disease develops when the body's immune system attacks its own healthy cells, organs or tissues.

Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any tissue or organ in your body

Skin
Joints
Blood vessels
Muscles

Your symptoms may vary based on which parts of your body are affected.

A person can have more than 1 autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic and can be serious

There are no cures for autoimmune diseases, and they can seriously impact your quality of life without proper treatment.

How do you treat autoimmune diseases?

Treatment varies based on:

• What condition(s) you have
• What symptoms you have
• Where your symptoms are
• What the goals of treatment are

Early treatment is key

Getting treated early can help prevent organ damage

Why are women more likely to get autoimmune diseases?

Women have lots of hormonal changes that affect the immune system and can lead to autoimmune disorders.

The 3 main hormonal transitions are:

• Puberty
• Pregnancy
• Menopause

Autoimmune diseases are more likely to happen when hormone levels change and during long periods of stress.

Other factors include:

• Environment
• Genetics
• Female sex (two X chromosomes)

Fluctuating hormones + immune changes + transition periods = Greater risk for autoimmune diseases

The most common autoimmune diseases in women include:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Type 1 diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriasis

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise around the world …

… But rarely talked about as a women’s health concern

Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you have an autoimmune disease.

This educational resource was created with support from Viatris, a HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member.