Question
I developed RA seven months ago and am currently taking methotrexate and plaquinil and am relatively under control. My symptoms started after I had a virus with a high temperature for 5 consecutive days last fall. I’m 49 years old and have been fully menopausal for only 16 months. Could my reduced hormone levels have played a part in my onset of RA? If so, could I counter this with hormone replacement therapy? It seems way to coincidental that both of these things occured within the same year.
Answer
RA is more common in women and it often gets better during pregnancy. These two facts suggest an influence from hormones. However, many women do get RA before the menopause, and many men have RA, too, so menopause can’t be the full explanation.
