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Women with MS outnumber men with the condition by nearly 4 to 1. And this gender gap has only widened in the last 50 years. Experts don’t have a clear explanation for the cause of MS in anyone, much less in women specifically. But they have a few theories that might explain the sex differences in MS rates.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system. In MS, messages between the brain and the rest of the body are disrupted, causing a wide array of symptoms. In 2020, researchers estimated that 2.8 million people around the world are living with MS. Overall, women are twice as likely to have MS as men, but the ratio of women to men is as high as 4 to 1 in some countries. Learn how MS in men differs from MS in women and why it’s important to seek a diagnosis and early treatment.
What is multiple sclerosis? An expert explains Learn more from neurologist Oliver Tobin, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., Ph.D.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin layer of tissue that covers many internal organs. Mesothelioma is pronounced me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh. It most often happens in the tissue around the lungs. This is called pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma also can happen in the tissues in the belly, around the heart and around the testicles. Mesothelioma, which is sometimes called malignant mesothelioma, is a fast-growing and deadly form of cancer. There are mesothelioma treatments. But for many people with mesothelioma, there is no cure.
About 1 in 4 people diagnosed with mesothelioma are women. Overall, most diagnoses are pleural mesothelioma (lung lining), but peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal lining) is proportionally more common in women. Women with mesothelioma typically have better outcomes than men do.
Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers can lodge in the lining of the lungs or abdomen, risking inflammation, DNA mutations and eventually cancer. Workers, veterans and families exposed secondhand face higher risks, with symptoms appearing 20 to 60 years after exposure.
HIV symptoms in cisgender women and others assigned female at birth (AFAB) can range from common flu-like symptoms to skin changes, mood fluctuations, menstrual irregularities, and recurrent vaginal infections.
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