systemic autoimmune diseases and menstrual cycle

Hi, I have multiple sclerosis and I’ve noticed that my symptoms are changing during menstrual cycle. Are systemic autoimmune diseases related to menstrual cycle or is it just my imagination?

Hi, you are not misinterpreting your body’s signs, menstrual cycle by fluctuation in level of hormones effects whole organism, so it effects manifestation of multiple sclerosis as well. Did you know that women are 2.7 times more likely than men to acquire an autoimmune disease? Since, women live longer they have enhanced immune systems compared to men. This increases their resistance to many types of infection but also provides more susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. In days before menstrual cycle levels of estrogen in the blood are low, so symptoms of multiple sclerosis are more severe.