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Autoimmune illnesses disproportionately have an effect on girls, with notable shifts in incidence following menopause, suggesting a possible position of intercourse hormones in immune regulation.
A brand new research suggests a considerably increased incidence and danger of creating all autoimmune illnesses (besides Graves’ illness and autoimmune hepatitis) in postmenopausal girls utilizing hormone remedy.
Outcomes of the research had been introduced on the 2025 Annual Assembly of The Menopause Society, held in Orlando, October 21–25.
Autoimmune illnesses have been rising globally for years and are anticipated to proceed rising with girls being the first targets. Some research have instructed that ladies would possibly even have a fourfold increased danger of being identified with an autoimmune illness than males.
Researchers have already recognized numerous components associated to the rise, together with environmental components and stress. There was hypothesis that hormones affect immune responses, though the connection with the event of autoimmune illnesses in postmenopausal girls stays poorly understood.
Hormone remedy continues to be probably the most generally used and efficient therapy for managing an array of bothersome menopause signs, together with scorching flashes.
A brand new large-scale research involving almost 1.8 million girls with a imply age of 60.5 years aimed to analyze the affiliation between hormone remedy use and the incidence of autoimmune illnesses amongst postmenopausal girls. In comparison with non-users, hormone remedy customers had a better incidence of autoimmune illnesses at 5 years, 10 years, and throughout the complete postmenopausal interval.
When evaluating 17 particular person autoimmune circumstances over the complete postmenopausal interval, statistically important will increase in danger had been noticed for all autoimmune illnesses besides Graves’ illness and autoimmune hepatitis.
“Our study found a statistical link between hormone therapy and autoimmune diseases, but the actual increase in absolute risk is relatively small and varies by condition,” says Dr. Xuezhi (Daniel) Jiang, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Drexel College School of Medication and lead writer.
“Because this was a retrospective database study, more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions. Hormone therapy remains a safe and important option for many women when used appropriately but, like any treatment, it should be individualized while we await more research on its possible links to autoimmune disease.”
These findings spotlight the necessity for additional potential analysis to confirm these associations and to make clear potential underlying mechanisms and temporal relationships between hormone remedy use and autoimmune illness onset to help individualized risk-benefit evaluations in menopause care.
“Since more and more women are affected by autoimmune diseases, it’s important to consider all potential associations,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.
“That’s why we continue to recommend that health care professionals take a very individualized approach when prescribing hormone therapy. Although hormone therapy continues to be the first line therapy for managing menopause symptoms, it is not for everyone.”
Extra info:
Summary presentation: Affiliation of Hormone Remedy with Autoimmune Illness Threat in Postmenopausal Girls: A TriNetX-Based mostly Evaluation
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The North American Menopause Society
Quotation:
Understanding the affiliation between hormone remedy and autoimmune illness danger (2025, October 21)
retrieved 21 October 2025
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