Autoimmune Disease in Women

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells thinking they are germs or foreign bodies. Sex hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, play unique roles in the body that contribute to differences between women and men concerning autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases affect more than 24 million Americans, and four out of five patients are women.

Learn more about the autoimmune disease throughout the body in the Autoimmune Disease in Women Fact Sheet.

Download Fact Sheet

Resource & Support Organizations:

• Autoimmune Association: https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/patient-support 
• Patient Advocate Foundation: https://www.patientadvocate.org/connect-with-services/case-management-services-and-carelines 
• Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org/conditions/co-occurring-mental-health-and-chronic-illness 
• NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research: https://orwh.od.nih.gov/OADR-ORWH 
• SWHR Autoimmune Diseases Focus Area: https://swhr.org/health_focus_area/autoimmune-diseases 

This material was created by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and is intended to serve as a public educational and informative resource. This material may be cited or shared on external channels, websites, and blogs, with attribution given to SWHR, or printed and displayed in its original formatted version. SWHR encourages the sharing and reposting of its content in order to spread awareness around women’s health issues. For specific questions about sharing SWHR content, please reach out to communications@swhr.org.

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Support for this event has been provided by Johnson & Johnson. SWHR maintains independence and editorial control over program development, content, and work products.