Autoimmune Disorders in Women

​

[HerScope Presentation]

Diba Morady

08/22/2025

​

1

HerScope Team

Tianeh Parsi

Co-President

Zara Taylor

Co President

Diba Morady

Treasurer

Donna Valizadeh

Social Media Coordinator

HerScope

HerScope Mission

HerScope is dedicated to exploring the field of reproductive endocrinology through a clinical and physiological lens. We bring together students passionate about understanding, educating, and advocating for the medical realities of conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, & more!

​

Page 3

HerScope

Disclaimer

We will be using the term “woman” to refer to individuals assigned female at birth that have a uterus. We are here to represent all individuals with a uterus regardless of their gender orientation!

Page 4

What are Autoimmune Disorders?

HerScope

Page #

Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system (your body's defense against germs) makes a mistake and attacks your own healthy tissues instead of just fighting infections.

The Numbers

• 8% of Americans have autoimmune diseases (about 23 million people)
• 78% of these patients are women - that's nearly 4 out of every 5 people
• There are over 80 different autoimmune diseases
• Examples: lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes

Page 5

Why This Matters

HerScope

Page #

• Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect females, demonstrating a greater prevalence amongst women, occurring at a rate of 2:1
• Many autoimmune disorders tend to affect women during periods of extensive stress, such as pregnancy, or during a great hormonal change.
• A far greater number of women are affected every year with autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disorders occur as a result of multiple factors as some disorders may be genetic, while others are sporadic/environmental.

​

​

​

6

These diseases can affect any part of your body - joints, skin, brain, heart, kidneys - and currently have no cures. Understanding why women are so much more affected could lead to better prevention and treatment.

​

Page 6

HerScope

Page #

7

Three Critical Times in a Woman’s Life

1. Puberty (12-18)
1. When female hormones first surge
2. Disease rates in girls jump dramatically compared to boys

2. Pregnancy and after childbirth (20s-40s)

• Immune system changes to protect the baby
• Can trigger diseases months or years later

3. Menopause (45-55)

• When protective hormones decline
• Peak time for many autoimmune diseases to begin

Page 7

The Pattern

HerScope

​

Each of these times involves major hormonal changes that can disrupt the delicate balance of the immune system in women who are genetically susceptible.

Page 8

The X Chromosome Factor

HerScope

Page #

9

Basic Genetics Review

• Women have XX chromosomes, men have XY
• The X chromosome is much larger and contains more genes than the Y chromosome

The Problem with Having Two X's

Gene Overload:

• X chromosome: 800-900 genes (including many immune system genes)
• Y chromosome: only 50-60 genes
• Women get a "double dose" of immune system instructions

​

Page 9

HerScope

Page #

10

How Hormones Control Your Immune System

Estrogen: The Main Player

Estrogen acts like a master switch for your immune system, but its effects depend on how much you have:

High estrogen levels (like during pregnancy):

• Calms down inflammatory responses
• Protects against diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis

Low estrogen levels (like after menopause):

• Increases inflammatory responses
• Makes autoimmune diseases more likely to develop

Other Important Hormones

Testosterone (higher in males): Acts like a natural immune system brake

Prolactin: Increases in females after puberty and stimulates immune responses

Leptin: Also rises in girls after puberty and promotes inflammation

​

The Key Difference

Men have relatively stable hormone levels throughout life, while women experience constant hormonal changes that can trigger immune system problems.

☝️

Page 10

HerScope

Page #

11

The Journey from Puberty to Menopause

Page 11

01: Childhood (Ages 1-12)

02: Puberty (Ages 12-18): The Switch Flips

​

03: Reproductive Years (Ages 20-45)

04: Menopause (Ages 40-55)

HerScope

• Boys and girls get autoimmune diseases at equal rates
• Hormone levels are low and similar between sexes
• Immune systems work similarly

​

The Change:

• Autoimmune disorder rates: equal before puberty → 2.2 girls for every 1 boy after
• Lupus in Taiwanese study: girls' rates jumped from 0.65 per 100,000 at age 1 to 34.6 per 100,000 at age 15
• Boys' lupus rates stayed near zero

During Pregnancy:

• Immune system calms down to protect the baby
• Many autoimmune diseases actually improve

After Childbirth:

• Immune system "rebounds" and can overreact
• New mothers have 7 times higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis
• Highest risk period is the first 3 months after birth

What Happens:

• Estrogen levels drop dramatically
• Peak time for autoimmune diseases to start (ages 40-55)
• Earlier menopause = higher disease risk

Examples:

• Lupus peaks at ages 40-49, then drops after menopause
• Rheumatoid arthritis gets worse after menopause
• Multiple sclerosis symptoms become more severe

Why It Happens:

• Female hormones "wake up" the immune system
• Immune cells become more reactive to threats (real or imagined)

​

Page 12

HerScope

New Discoveries

Epigenetics - How Environment Affects Genes:

• Your genes can be "turned on or off" by environmental factors
• Hormonal changes during puberty and menopause affect which genes are active
• These changes may explain why autoimmune diseases develop at specific life stages

The Gut Connection:

• The bacteria in your intestines affect your hormone levels
• Female and male gut bacteria are different
• This may contribute to sex differences in autoimmune diseases

Clinical Implications

For Healthcare:

• Women need closer monitoring during hormonal transition periods
• Family history of autoimmune diseases is crucial information
• Early intervention during high-risk periods may prevent disease development

Current Challenges:

• Treatment costs exceed $100 billion annually in the US
• These diseases are a leading cause of death in young women
• Despite affecting mostly women, they're often not discussed as women's health issues

​

Modern Research and Future Directions

Page 13

HerScope

Page #

14

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

While we can't control genetics or hormones, research shows that lifestyle factors (not smoking, managing stress, healthy diet, regular exercise) can help reduce risk in people who are genetically susceptible.

​

Page 14

HerScope

Page #

15

Show What You Know!

KAHOOT!

Page 15

HerScope

Page #

16

Thank you for watching!

If you're interested in learning more about women’s health, engage with the healthcare community, or just want to chat/ask questions please feel free to connect with us!

​

Email: herscopeboard@ucdavis.edu

​

Interest Form:

​

Page 16

HerScope

Feedback!

​

We’d love your feedback! Take a minute to fill out the form :)

Page 17

HerScope

Sources/Bibliography:

Note: Some of these articles may require a subscription. Most schools already pay for these subscriptions, so try logging in with your school account to access them!

Page 18