Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that depends on a variety of risk factors. These factors determine the growth and symptoms of the disease. Biological sex plays a prominent role in the journey of an individual with MS. Dr. Houtchen states, “Two-thirds of people with MS are women, and most are young when they get the MS diagnosis”. There are around four times more women in the world affected by MS when compared to men, but why? Gender, hormones, vitamin D, and body fat are all components researchers are trying to link to the growing amount of females with MS. As of now, 74% of people with MS are female and the rest are male. Research has been conducted and continues to regulate the factors that might contribute to these statistics as well as how MS impacts a female differently, when compared to their male counterpart.
Scientists can see a direct correlation between MS and the gender of the diagnosed. The increase in female MS population is believed to be mainly produced by hormonal differences or fluctuations in estrogen and testosterone. Before puberty, the rate of MS in women and men are approximately the same. During puberty, or between menstruation and menopause, women are more susceptible to develop this degenerative condition. After menopause, statistics show a stable or balanced level of MS as estrogen levels decrease. Vitamin D levels also have an impact on MS as researcher Ellen Mowry has linked fewer relapses to patients with higher amounts of calciferol (vitamin D) . This can also explain why females tend to have more relapses since they are prone to being deficient. Another factor that could impact prevalence of MS in females is obesity or body fat levels. Inflammation is a part of MS and it is often linked to obesity. Median data shows that naturally women have a higher body fat percentage and tend to carry more fat around their stomach or hip areas than men. This location can lead to an increase in inflammation.
Women are more likely to develop RRMS which stands for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. However, the disease is more severe in men and it tends to grow faster. A study done in 2015 shows that the average time of moderate disability development for women was around 8 years when compared to men which was about 10 years. Also, there are a few symptoms that tend to appear more in women than men. Women are more likely to develop issues with their vision and progressive lesions in their brains. On the other hand, men tend to have motor and cognitive impairments along with faster nerve cell destruction. While women tend to develop MS more, men tend to have a more severe and faster disease progression.
MS is a disease that continues to be researched with the life capacity gap shrinking due to movements of treatments and medical inquiries. The average lifespan of a woman without multiple sclerosis is 84.6 years old and for a woman with MS, it is 77.2 years old. While there is a difference, the medical field is working hard to help women with MS have a safer and more comfortable life.
Works Cited
“Multiple Sclerosis: Why Are Women More at Risk?” Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/multiple-sclerosis-ms/multiple-sclerosis-why-are-women-more-at-risk. Accessed 22 April 2023.
Silva, Patricia. “MS in Women | Symptoms, Life Expectancy, and More | Multiple...” Multiple Sclerosis News Today, 20 May 2022, https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/ms-symptoms-in-women/. Accessed 22 April 2023.
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