Caroline H. Siegel, MD, MS, rheumatologist at HSS shares how menopause can impact your autoimmune disease in an interview with Health Central. 

According to research in Frontiers in Endocrinology, every time a woman experiences a major hormonal transition or fluctuation—in puberty, pregnancy (when applicable), and menopause—the immune system is affected. More specifically, there seems to be a link between these transitional states and the development of autoimmune diseases such as MS, lupus, RA, type 1 diabetes, and psoriasis, and possibly the progression, as well. 

This can ultimately lead to worsening of disease in some women. “Some studies have found that the menopausal transition may accelerate functional decline in women with rheumatoid arthritis,” said Dr. Siegel. The same is true for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, according to Italian research, which found that low levels of estrogen can also trigger or worsen skin symptoms in both illnesses.

Read the full article at healthcentral.com.