Survey study, 2020
Do women with hidradenitis suppurativa experience flares around their menstrual period?
Yes, about 6 in 10 women report this skin condition worsening around their period, and most of those experience flares in the week before menstruation. Some hormonal treatments helped but others made symptoms worse.
What they did
Researchers surveyed 283 women with hidradenitis suppurativa (a chronic skin condition) about whether their symptoms flare around their menstrual cycle. They asked about use of hormonal treatments and family history of the condition.
What they found
62.4% of women reported worsening with menses. Of those with worsening, 86.9% said flares occurred always or often. 78.9% reported flares in the week before their period. Women with a family history of the condition had higher rates of period-related flares (49.6%) compared to those without family history (28.2%). More than one-third treated with spironolactone reported improvement. However, more than one-quarter using medroxyprogesterone acetate or a hormonal IUD reported worsened symptoms.
What it means for you
This is a web-based survey, so women had to remember their symptoms and it only included people active in online support groups. The study cannot prove the menstrual cycle causes flares, just that women notice them together. The mixed results with hormonal treatments suggest there is no clear single solution for managing this condition around the period.
283
women surveyed
62.4%
reported worsening
78.9%
flares before period
About the study
- Original title
- Characterizing perimenstrual flares of hidradenitis suppurativa
- Authors
- Collier EK, Price KN, Grogan TR et al.
- Journal
- International journal of women's dermatology
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 283
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.09.002