Why Autoimmune Issues Are Rising in Women (and What to Do About It)

Let’s start with a jaw-dropper: About 78% of autoimmune conditions affect women. Nearly 4 out of 5 people struggling with these chronic, frustrating, often life-altering diseases are female. So if it feels like everyone you know is getting diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or something equally hard to pronounce, you’re not imagining it. Autoimmune issues are on the rise, especially in women. The big questions are: why? And more importantly, what can we do about it?

First, What Is an Autoimmune Disease?

Think of your immune system as your body’s personal security team. It’s trained to spot intruders—viruses, bacteria, and other threats—and neutralize them before they cause harm. But with autoimmune diseases, your immune system goes rogue and starts attacking your own cells like they’re the bad guys.

This internal misfire can affect almost any part of the body: joints, thyroid, skin, brain, gut… you name it. There are over 80 known autoimmune diseases, and many more likely autoimmune in nature but not officially labeled yet.

So Why Are Women Getting Hit the Hardest?

Science is still untangling the full picture, but here are some of the major players:

1. Hormones, Hormones, Hormones

Estrogen is a powerful immune modulator, meaning it influences how our immune system behaves. When estrogen levels fluctuate—during puberty, pregnancy, or perimenopause—our immune system can get a little dramatic (Polanczyk et al., 2018; Fairweather et al., 2020).

Women are also more likely to be diagnosed during their reproductive years, which points to hormones as a big piece of the puzzle. Plus, the X chromosome itself contributes to immune system differences between men and women (Libert et al., 2019).

2. Genetics (Thanks, Grandma)

Some genes linked to autoimmune diseases are more commonly found in women. And if autoimmune issues run in your family, your odds go up (Mueller et al., 2021).

3. Chronic Stress

Women juggle a lot—work, family, caregiving, social obligations, all on too little sleep. Chronic stress can dysregulate the immune system and may light the autoimmune fire (Slavich, 2020; Dhabhar, 2018).

4. Environmental Triggers

We’re exposed to more chemicals, plastics, pesticides, and toxins than ever before. These environmental disruptors can confuse the immune system and contribute to “leaky gut,” where undigested food particles and toxins slip through the gut lining and trigger immune responses (Pavlovic et al., 2019; Schmidt et al., 2020).

5. The Gut-Immune Connection

More than 70% of your immune system lives in your gut, meaning gut health is tightly linked to immune function. An imbalanced microbiome or gut inflammation can create the perfect storm for autoimmunity (Zheng et al., 2022; Belkaid & Harrison, 2017).

6. Undiagnosed Infections

Some autoimmune conditions may be triggered or worsened by hidden infections like Epstein-Barr virus or Lyme disease. These bugs are sneaky and often overlooked in traditional medicine (Bjornevik et al., 2022; Tsokos et al., 2019).

Okay, So What Can We Do About It?

Here’s the good news: While we can’t change our genes or erase all the stress in life, there’s a lot we can do to prevent or manage autoimmune conditions.

1. Start with Food

Food can be poison or powerful medicine. The right diet calms inflammation, nourishes the gut, and supports balanced hormones. Basics include:

• Focus on whole, anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, colorful veggies, wild-caught fish, berries, nuts, and seeds (Klein, 2020).

• Eliminate known triggers like gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and ultra-processed foods. Say goodbye to sodas, fake sugars, and packaged meals.

• Try an autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet or work with a practitioner to customize a plan that suits your needs (Kabat-Zinn et al., 2019).

2. Balance Your Hormones

Addressing hormone imbalances is a game-changer. This might mean supporting liver detox pathways, using targeted supplements, or exploring bioidentical hormone replacement therapy when appropriate.

3. Prioritize Gut Health

If your gut isn’t happy, your immune system won’t be either. Support digestion with probiotics, fermented foods, digestive enzymes, and gut-healing nutrients like L-glutamine or collagen (Zheng et al., 2022).

4. Manage Stress Like It’s Your Job

You don’t need a two-hour meditation practice (unless you want one). Make space for things that help you exhale:

• Daily walks

• Breathwork or gentle yoga

• Time in nature

• Journaling or creative hobbies

And yes, saying “no” more often counts as self-care (Slavich, 2020).

5. Detox Your Environment

Swap out endocrine-disrupting products for cleaner options:

• Ditch plastic water bottles

• Use EWG-approved skincare and cleaning products

• Say goodbye to artificially fragranced candles (sorry, Bath & Body Works!)

Small changes add up over time (Pavlovic et al., 2019).

6. Test, Don’t Guess

Functional medicine offers deeper testing beyond standard labs. We can check for hidden infections, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and gut markers to build a precise plan.

7. Don’t Wait for a Diagnosis

If you’re feeling off, fatigued, bloated, brain-fogged, moody, inflamed…listen to that inner voice. You deserve answers before things escalate.

Final Thoughts from Dr. Rodarte

Autoimmune conditions are on the rise—but so is awareness. More women are speaking up, asking the right questions, and finding providers who look beyond the surface.

Just because something runs in your family doesn’t mean it has to be your future. There’s so much we can do to reduce risk and stay ahead.

If you’re feeling dismissed, brushed off, or stuck in a cycle of symptoms with no clear diagnosis, we see you and we’re here to help.

Ready to take the first step? Book a complimentary phone call with our team at Activated Health & Wellness.

References:

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