2. Hormones
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women are two or three times more likely to develop RA than men. Hormones may play a role, and research into this is ongoing.
Estrogen
High levels of estrogen, a female sex hormone also present in males, may contribute to the development of the disease.
Also, the CDC note, women who have never given birth may have a higher likelihood of developing RA.
Testosterone
Some research points to a link between low testosterone levels and RA.
In 2018, researchers published the results of a study involving 59 participants with RA and 61 participants without the condition, matched for sex and age. Those with RA were more likely to have testosterone levels outside the normal range.
Some participants with RA then received serum testosterone therapy, and the activity of their RA reduced. The study’s authors believe that hormone replacement therapy may help treat symptoms of RA.
Menopause
During and after menopause, some females with RA experience a decline in physical ability, according to results of a different 2018 study. This finding also suggests that hormones play a role in the progression of RA.
Meanwhile, research in animals and humans suggests that receiving estrogen replacement therapy after menopause may increase the risk of developing RA.
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