Women And The Condition Known As Fibromyalgia

The condition known as fibromyalgia places a significant role in the life of a woman afflicted with it. The affects of the condition can be serious and can impact her reproductive health including her ability to become pregnant and also follow and affect her through the years including producing PMS symptoms and affect her during menopause. There are many affects fibromyalgia can have on her health that she should be aware of and prepare for in order to improve her quality of life.

Did you know that 85 to 90% of all patients with fibromyalgia are women? Researchers and scientists are not sure why there is such an imbalance regarding sexual statistics for the condition.

There are many affects that fibromyalgia has on a woman's health including reproductive health, pregnancy, PMS, and also during menopause. Women who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia have been shown in studies to have a higher occurrence of dysmenorrhea and breast cysts than women who do not have fibromyalgia. A woman with fibromyalgia is more likely to have an issue with libido than other women.

When a woman with fibromyalgia becomes pregnant she is more likely to suffer from severe pregnancy symptoms including increased intensity of pain, fatigue and stiffness than pregnant women who do not have fibromyalgia.

During her reproductive years a woman with fibromyalgia is more likely to have severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms (PMS) including severe headaches, back pain, abdominal cramping and insomnia. While in the midst of their menstrual cycle women with fibromyalgia are also more likely to experience emotional upset or mental confusion.

When a woman with fibromyalgia goes through menopause (age 40 - 55), she is more likely to see a drastic decrease in her estrogen levels and a decrease in her cortisol levels which will give her the symptoms of menopause to a greater intensity such as anxiety, depression and sleep related disturbances.

Women because they are often the caregivers in families will usually put off seeking medical care until the symptoms interfere with daily tasks and become more noticeable such as when the aches and pains progress to include muscle strength and movement interference. Women are more likely to seek out medical advice though especially if they can see that their symptoms are not improving.

Women will be sensitive to the flares associated with the condition. One day the symptoms will be minimized and the next day the symptoms will be aggravated by triggers such as alcohol consumption, insomnia, or overexertion.

Women tend to be more in tune with how the body works and may be more aware of subtle changes in how their body parts respond to physical demands more so than men might and therefore may be more likely to receive the diagnosis earlier than their male counterparts.