hormones and lupus

estrogen levels by age in women and lupus from puberty to menopause

Lupus in Women: From Puberty to Menopause

June 11, 2023

Lupus in women occurs much more often than in men. There are many reasons this occurs. Also, lupus tends to be more severe in younger women and often flares around the menstrual cycle.

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NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher

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Questions about lupus treatments and living with lupus

Living With Lupus Blog: The Lupus Encyclopedia – Q & A Video

Dr. Donald Thomas Answers Lupus Patients’ Questions on His Living With Lupus Blog: The Lupus Encyclopedia Watch this

Managing Bone Health With Bisphosphonate Drugs

Individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at increased risk of broken bones (fractures) due to osteoporosis. Increasing

The Best Soap for Lupus Patients (January 2026 Update)

Selecting the right soap for lupus patients is crucial because certain soaps can worsen irritation from cutaneous lupus

itchy skin like happens with lupus rashes

Itchy Skin Can Be a Sign of Active Lupus

Updated JUN 2023 Itchy skin can occur with active lupus rashes (cutaneous lupus). However, other causes are much

Lupus and Antimalarials

Lupus and antimalarials share a surprising and life-saving connection. While antimalarials were first used to fight malaria, doctors

Connective Tissue Disease written on a white board by a doctor

Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease: It Is Real! (Feb 2025 Update)

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is one of the most common diagnoses made by rheumatologists. Many systemic lupus

A mask, needle, and syringe as symbols to protect from COVID-19

What is Evusheld and Who Should Get Evusheld: Prevent COVID-19 [OCT 2022 Update]

What is Evusheld? It is a treatment to prevent COVID-19 infections. It is not a vaccine. It is

Woman taking pills out of a pill box organizer

Hydroxychloroquine Decreases the Risk of Death

Research article shows that taking hydroxychloroquine decreases the risk of death by 83%: Impact of Antimalarial Adherence on

A man with trigger finger due to tenosynovitis

Now Research Shows: Lupus tendinitis, common cause of lupus pain

Th Jaccoud’s arthropathy due to lupus tendinitis (lupus tendonitis) and lupus tenosynovitis What is lupus tendinitis (also spelled

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for weight loss in lupus, shown with GLP-1 injection pens, lupus butterfly, heart and kidney icons, and measuring tape.

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound for Weight Loss in Lupus: What Patients Should Know

Many people with lupus ask me about the newer weight-loss and diabetes medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro,

Anti-SSA Test (anti-Ro): Know Your Labs

Understanding the Anti-SSA (Anti-Ro) Blood Test in Lupus and Sjögren’s Have you recently received a positive anti-SSA blood

Image of two kidneys and some doctors with the title chronic kidney disease

3 Ways to Stop Lupus Kidney Disease Progression [Jan 2025]

It is indeed possible to slow the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with lupus and

Lupus Lab Tests Explained: What Blood Tests Mean for Diagnosing and Monitoring Lupus

Understanding your lupus lab tests when you have lupus can be overwhelming. Labs such as ANA, anti-dsDNA, and

Lupus, the Heart and Blood Vessels [March 2025 Update]

Lupus can significantly impact the heart and blood vessels, known as the cardiovascular system. This article goes into

VA Disability for Lupus: Navigating Your Claim [Feb 2025 Update]

Startling statistic: A large study showed that Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans suffering from PTSD were twice as likely

Lupus medication list with drug allergy list including sulfa and Bactrim antibiotics

Good Advice on Lupus and Sulfa Antibiotics Like Bactrim [April 2025 Update]

Lupus and Bactrim: List sulfa antibiotics (like Bactrim) in your drug intolerance list if you have lupus Lupus

DHEA and Lupus: Research shows it to be useful and good in some

Other Facts about DHEA and lupus – DHEA and lupus: DHEA stands for DeHydroEpiAndrosterone – Produced by the

New lupus test for lupus flares announced by The Lupus Foundation

The aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index Test: A new lupus lab test

The aiSLE DX Flare Risk Index test The Lupus Foundation of America, in its continuous quest to advocate

Illustration of collecting a urine sample

How to collect a urine sample properly for testing (UPDATED January 2025)

It is essential for lupus patients to regularly collect an accurate clean catch urine sample

exercise and lupus photo of a woman on a stationary bicycle

Weight Loss & Exercise in Lupus: the science & patient view [March 2025 Update]

Weight loss & exercise provide many benefits to lupus patients. Healthcare providers consider exercise as “free medication” with

Lupus Eyes

Have you ever wondered how lupus might secretly impact your eyesight? Most people know lupus can attack the

Lupus and Gastro Issues [March 2025 Update]

Lupus and its treatments can affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the intestines. Mouth sores

Elderly woman and adult daughter caregiver

Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month

Every November, we join millions around the country in Celebrating National Family Caregivers Month. This annual observance honors

Hair and Skin Problems in Lupus [Feb 2025 Update]

Most individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) experience skin involvement or hair loss. There are many different types

Lupus and Purple Rashes

What Are Purple Rashes on the Skin? Purple rashes on the skin can signal a variety of health

Dr. Donald Thomas MD holding the new edition Lupus Encyclopedia A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers

The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2: Now Available!

The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Health Care Providers is now available at

sick girl for blog about children with kidney inflammation blog post

Benlysta for pediatric lupus nephritis: FDA-approved

Benlysta for children with lupus kidney inflammation (lupus nephritis): FDA-approved on July 26, 2022 This is a

Coronavirus vaccine for COVID-19 and lupus patients

COVID Vaccine for Immunocompromised Patients and What Drugs to Stop [December 2023 UPDATE]

The American College of Rheumatology Provides Guidance for stopping drugs to enhance the COVID vaccine for immunocompromised patients

Woman who has a malar rash (butterfly rash) due to lupus with lupus disease activity

How Severe is Your Lupus? Use a Lupus Severity Index [May 2025 Update)

Our goal in treating systemic lupus erythematosus is complete remission while using medications that include hydroxychloroquine (if not

Rheumatologists: What if hydroxychloroquine eye tests show retinopathy [FEB 2023 Update]

Do not automatically stop hydroxychloroquine if your eye doctor tells you your patient has HCQ-retinopathy! Read more about

Man with yellow eyes due to jaundice from hepatitis

Lupus and Hepatitis B Vaccine: Endorsed in the CDC guidelines

Lupus and Hepatitis B Addendum: The recommendations for hepatitis B vaccines changed in 2022. The CDC recommended that

Traveling With Lupus – Advice From a Rheumatologist

Traveling with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents its unique challenges. Making sure that you stay as healthy and

Lupus and Hives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause hives (also called urticaria). Hives are itchy, swollen bumps that appear on

Survey about being diagnosed with lupus and The Lupus Foundation of America

Participate in this lupus survey if you live in the USA [Survey is closed]

The Lupus Foundation of America wants to learn more about the difficulties in being diagnosed with lupus Click

Drawing of an electron microscopic view of the hepatitis C virus

Lupus and Hepatitis C: Lupus Patients Should be Tested for Hepatitis C

The interactions of hepatitis C and systemic lupus is strange, and hepatitis C can mimic lupus … read

COVID Vaccine and Lupus: Join in a Research Study Now

How the COVID Vaccine and Lupus Interact is Important to Figure Out: Consider Joining this NIH Research Study

Herbal supplements for lupus that worsen lupus

Supplements That Worsen Lupus & 6 That Help [March 2025 Update]

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system is overactive. This post discusses a 2024 research study

Lupus and Vaccines: Shingles, Shingrix, and Zostavax

Knowing how lupus and vaccines interact is important since infections are one of the top two causes of

Photo of sunspots: Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews

Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews: 2025 Sunspots & Milder Lupus?

Johns Hopkins Lupus Center Reviews: Could sunspots in 2025 lead to milder lupus? 2014 photo by NASA showing

Lupus and Fibromyalgia

Lupus and Fibromyalgia: Understanding the Connection Lupus and fibromyalgia are two distinct conditions, but they often coexist, causing

Lupus and the Nervous System

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) commonly affects the body’s nerves. Our nerves cause us to be able to feel

FDA approves Benlysta for lupus nephritis December 2020

Benlysta (belimumab) is the 1st drug ever FDA-approved to treat lupus nephritis Historic milestone! ___________________________ NOTE: Johns Hopkins

Proteinuria in lupus nephritis. This is what a kidney looks like

Proteinuria in Lupus Nephritis: Video tips and the bottom line [March 2025 UPDATE]

When excessive protein leaks from the kidneys and into the urine, it is called proteinuria. Proteinuria in lupus

Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines: How Effective is One COVID shot?

CDC Study answers this question Please get your COVID-19 vaccine! We all would like life to go back

bacteria in urine bacteriuria can cause lupus flares

Bacteria in Urine Increases Lupus Flares

If we prevent bacteria in urine (bacteriuria), could we decrease lupus flares? Bacteria in urine was found in

Woman with lupus helping lupus research for the Lupus Foundation of America

Share Lupus Experiences Now: Help current research on lupus

IF YOU HAVE LUPUS OR ARE A CAREGIVER: Help current research on lupus by sharing your experiences with

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis: Now in a nutshell in this video [FEB 2025 UPDATE]

Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis in easy-to-understand language ___________________________ NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher of The Lupus Encyclopedia, is a

Newspaper on fire about lupus patients and COVID-19 vaccines

Provocative Advice: Lupus Patients need COVID Vaccines [2021]

Evaluation and recommendations by noted lupus experts: Lupus patients need COVID vaccines Hot off the press from Lupus

Lupus and Taking Probiotics/Prebiotics: The truth [Updated JUL ’23]

Lupus and taking probiotics: Should you take probiotics if you have lupus, and what are the best probiotics

Discoid lupus erythematosus on the cheek of a white woman with systemic lupus

Can Discoid Lupus Turn into Systemic?- “Sure” Now more about the truth

The Latest Research Answers the Question: “Can discoid lupus turn into systemic lupus erythematosus?” Discoid lupus: note the

hormones and lupus

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