Posted: September 3, 2015 Contributor: PRJKT RUBY
Outcome Improvement Reported in Women with RA Taking Birth Control
A recent German study has shown that women with early inflammatory arthritis have better patient-reported outcomes throughout the first two years of the disease when taking oral contraceptives. The link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and birth control is one that hasn’t previously been studied but now, this research could potentially change the prescribing route for women suffering from the beginning stages of this condition.
So how are birth control use and RA symptoms linked? It appears that there are hormonal factors that play in to the disease in women. It’s been noted that there is a lower incidence of RA during pregnancy and a higher incidence during the years of peri- and postmenopause.
This is a preliminary study and it appears that more research will need to be completed to fully understand the usefulness of the data but for women suffering from RA, this information could soon be used to make a difference in treatment.
Another possible factor that may contribute to the beneficial reports of women with RA is that oral contraceptives also have an impact on mood.
To read more, check out the full study report.