Autoimmunity and Menopause

Menopause is a testing time. It comes when we are of an age where we have had a journey through life and been tested, some of us more than others, and that has an effect on how we cope through menopause. At menopause we lose some of the supportive hormones for our health and, whether we like it or not, it is aging. Menopause is one more hit to our stability, and for some, that could be the final straw that can weaken and compromise our defenses to infection, and in turn, chronic disease.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​Every stress to the body, whether physical or emotional, puts us into fight or flight, because we are programmed for survival. Not just survival as individuals, but for our entire race. Every time a stressor happens it affects our cortisol and we become immunosuppressed to an extent. If this happens over and over, whether it is because of a bad break-up, a loss, an operation, or an illness; our bodies keep score – and that is key. The bottom line is some of us arrive at menopause with few scars and cope well, but others of us arrive already depleted by our “scores” and we suffer the loss of those hormones more.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​When our immune system is compromised for any of the reasons mentioned above, we unwittingly let in bugs – bacterias, viruses, parasites etc., and these bugs take advantage of our weakened state. Many of them contain proteins very similar to our own cells and our immune system gets confused. At any threat, it sends out an army to attack these intruders, but what if these intruders look exactly the same as our own cells? This is what happens in autoimmune conditions. Because we are programmed to fight invaders to survive, when those invaders mimic our own cells, we literally start to attack ourselves. That fight against invaders that threaten our mortality can be fierce, it can be painful and highly symptomatic because that fight is about survival – if those pathogens win and take over the host they threaten our entire existence.

Reasons for autoimmunity 

Autoimmunity can happen for a variety of reasons, but most often rears its ugly head when we are in a weakened state, so having good health and a robust immune system is vital for keeping these conditions at bay.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​Why do some of us have autoimmune conditions…? As usual, it doesn’t come down to one thing but more a layering that can predispose us, and then usually there is one final straw that allows it to play out and, for some, that final straw might be menopause. ​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​On the whole, we keep our bugs at a non-pathogenic level with strong immune systems, but if our immunity is weakened, as it can be by further viruses, infections, injury, surgery, stress or trauma (often coupled with a genetic predisposition) then this can cause an overgrowth of unwanted cells and can allow opportunistic pathogens to increase, thus creating activation or a flare.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​Many of these invaders contain proteins very similar to our own tissue proteins. Different bugs can actually dictate the autoimmune condition that plays out – for example, we know Chlamydia can bring out MS, Citrobacter – Rheumatoid arthritis or Klebsiella – Ankylosing spondylitis. Viruses can also cause this “molecular mimicry” and another layer, like EBV from glandular fever or any of the herpes viruses.​​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​As we are all different and individual, there is no generic reason, so personal investigation is required to understand your own journey. There are amazing stool tests easily available now that you can do at home that can identify the pathogens unveiling the reason and trigger for conditions and symptoms. ​​​​​​​​