Fibromyalgia in Women

Women are far more likely than men to get fibromyalgiaa

disease that causes pain and tender points throughout the
body. Between 80 and 90 percent of people who are diagnosed
with this condition are women, according to the National
Institutes of Health. The reason for this gender inequality may
have to do with hormones, immune system differences, or
genes. But researchers still arent exactly sure why women get
fibromyalgia in much greater numbers than men.


Fibromyalgia Pain
Fibromyalgia causes a very specific kind of pain. Women often
describe it as a dull ache that starts in the muscles. To be
diagnosed with fibromyalgia, the pain must be on both sides of
your body. And, it must affect both the upper and lower parts
of your body. The pain may come and go. It can be worse on
some days than on others, which can make it hard to plan for
daily activities.


Tender Points
In addition to more widespread pain, fibromyalgia causes
tender points around the body. Theyre called tender points
because when you press on them, they hurt. There are 18
possible tender points. You may have pain in some or all of
these places:
back of the head
area between the shoulders
front of the neck
top of the chest
outside of the elbows
top and sides of the hips
insides of the knees


Fatigue
The pain from fibromyalgia can make it very hard to sleep.
Conditions that often occur with fibromyalgiasuch as restless
legs syndrome and sleep apneacan also keep you awake at
night. A lack of sleep night after night can make you feel tired
and cause you to have trouble concentrating during the day. In
a vicious cycle, a lack of sleep can also make your pain worse.


Fibro Fog
Women with fibromyalgia may start to notice that they have
trouble remembering and concentrating. They may mix up
words when they speak, or get confused more easily than they
used to. These thinking problems are sometimes called fibro
fog because the mind feels foggy. Although doctors arent sure
whats behind fibro fog, it may be caused by a lack of sleep or
by the effects of fibromyalgia pain on the brain.




Headaches
About half of people with fibromyalgia develop headaches,
according to a study in the journal Clinical Rheumatology. Many
women get migrainesa throbbing type of headache that can
cause nausea, vomiting, and flashes of light. Why people with
fibromyalgia are more likely to get headaches isnt clear. But
experts think fibromyalgia and headaches may stem from the
imbalance of chemicals like serotonin and epinephrine in the
brain.


Painful Periods
In general, menstrual period cramps can be mild or painful,
depending on the woman. But women with fibromyalgia report
having more painful periods than usual. Some women with
fibromyalgia also have endometriosis. In this condition, tissue
from the uterus grows in other parts of the pelvis.
Endometriosis can cause uncomfortable periods too. Women
with fibromyalgia may also find that sexual intercourse
becomes more painful.


Irritable Bowel and Bladder
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another health condition that
is more common in women, according to the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. And women with fibromyalgia
are more likely to have IBS. Researchers dont know the reason
why IBS and fibromyalgia are connected. IBS causes symptoms
such as stomach cramps, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea,
which can also have a big impact on a womans life.


Restless legs
Many women with fibromyalgia get a creepy, crawly feeling in
their legs that wakes them from sleep. This condition is known
as restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS is much more common in
people with fibromyalgia. About 33 percent of people with
fibromyalgia have RLS, compared to only 3 percent of those
who dont have fibromyalgia. RLS disturbs sleep, and it can lead
to daytime drowsiness.


Sensitivity
If you have fibromyalgia, you might notice that you have to put
on a sweater every time the temperature drops, or that you
break into a sweat whenever the mercury rises. Temperature
sensitivity is very common in women with this condition. Some
women with fibromyalgia are also more sensitive than usual to
other things, such as loud noises or bright lights.


Why Does Fibromyalgia Syndrome Affect
More Women Than Men?

Fibromyalgia syndrome affects three to six million Americans,
85 to 90% of whom are women. Experts are unsure as to why
FMS affects more women than it does men.
In addition, a recent study found that African-American women
are more likely to suffer from fibromyalgia than their Caucasian
counterparts. It is not yet understood why this is the case.
Furthermore, while African-American women experience more
severe widespread pain, Caucasian women experience a
significantly increased level of pain.

The Effects of Fibromyalgia Syndrome on
Womens Health

There are a number of different effects that fibromyalgia can
have on a womans health:

Fibromyalgia and Reproductive Health
Studies have identified a link between fibromyalgia and a
womans reproductive health. In fact, women with fibromyalgia
syndrome are more likely to have reproductive health-related
diagnoses. For example, there is a higher incidence of
dysmenorrhea and breast cysts among women who have FMS.
In addition, fibromyalgia can also impact a womens sexuality,
including her libido.

Fibromyalgia and Pregnancy
Women with fibromyalgia also have more severe pregnancy
symptoms. A study found that pregnant women who had
fibromyalgia experienced greater stiffness, pain and fatigue in
comparison to pregnant women who did not have fibromyalgia
syndrome.
However, oftentimes these symptoms are misdiagnosed as
normal pregnancy symptoms.

Fibromyalgia and PMS
There is also a link between fibromyalgia syndrome and the
severity of a womans premenstrual syndrome symptoms.
Women with fibromyalgia have been found to have more
serious PMS symptoms, including more severe headaches,
insomnia, back pain and abdominal cramping.
Women with fibromyalgia also experience greater mental
confusion and emotional upset during their menstrual cycle
compared with women who do not have FMS.

Fibromyalgia and Menopause
The majority of women who have fibromyalgia syndrome are
diagnosed between 40 and 55 years of age, which coincides
with the average onset of menopause. Studies have shown that
the relationship between fibromyalgia and menopause may be
due to decreased levels of estrogen that occur during
menopause. Decreased levels of cortisol may also be a
contributing factor.
In addition, women in the post-menopausal stage may have
more severe FMS-related symptoms compared with those with
fibromyalgia who have not gone through menopause. Women
in the post-menopausal stage produce 40% less estrogen
compared with women who are pre-menopausal. Decreased
estrogen levels are linked to common menopause symptoms
such as depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, which are also
common fibromyalgia symptoms.