Arthritis Symptoms Arthritis More Prevalent in Women Than Men By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Rochelle Collins, DO on April 03, 2020 linkedin Rochelle Collins, DO, is board-certified in family medicine. She is an assistant clinical professor of family medicine at Quinnipiac University and works in private practice in Hartford, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Review Board Rochelle Collins, DO on April 03, 2020 Print Arthritis affects women more often than men. This is true for many — but not all — types of arthritis. After decades of being on the decline, the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis is rising among women as well. Why are women more affected by arthritis? Brand X Pictures / Tetra Images / Getty Images Why More Women Than Men Have Arthritis We asked rheumatologist Scott J. Zashin, MD, to explain why more women than men have arthritis. Zashin said: Autoimmune diseases are more common in women. Lupus is a good example of this phenomenon. Women prior to menopause may have a 15 fold increase in the risk of lupus compared to men. Yet, after menopause, that risk decreases to only two-fold, suggesting female sex hormones may increase the risk of lupus. Furthermore, it is thought that high dose estrogens that were used in oral contraceptives in the past may have played a role in triggering lupus or lupus activity. The new low dose estrogens are felt to be safer in this regard if the patient does not have risk factors for blood clots (such as anti-phospholipid antibodies). On the other hand, animal studies have shown that male hormones may suppress the disease in mice. Why hormonal influence plays a role in these conditions is unclear. One theory is that estrogen plays a role in affecting the B and T cells which are involved in the immune response. In rheumatoid arthritis, women are up to three times more likely to develop the condition than men. What is fascinating is that many women with rheumatoid arthritis go into remission during pregnancy. To date, no one has been able to determine the exact cause of this beneficial effect, but one theory is that changes in hormone levels may affect the level of proteins in the blood that contributes to inflammation. Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Rising Among Women According to a Mayo Clinic Study, after 40 years of decline (during the years 1955 to 1994), the incidence (frequency of occurrence) and prevalence (total number of cases in a given population) of rheumatoid arthritis among women is rising. From 1995 to 2005, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis among women was 54 per 100,000 compared to 36 per 100,000 for the previous 10 years. For men, the incidence was stable at 29 per 100,000. Researchers concluded that an environmental factor could explain the reverse in trend for women. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rheumatoid Arthritis May Be On the Rise in Women. Gabriel S. et al. American College of Rheumatology.