Lyme Disease in Women

If you live or spend time in an area where ticks are prevalent, then you probably have tick-borne illnesses on your mind from time to time—the most commonly known tick-borne infection being Lyme disease. 

Like many other diseases, Lyme disease symptoms in women can vary from those in men. In addition, the long-term complications that come with chronic Lyme disease and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome can also differ in women. 

If you’re a woman who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease or is concerned about being infected with it, it’s essential to know what symptoms to look out for, and what the potential long-term effects of tick-borne infections are.

Lyme Disease 101

Before we get into specific Lyme disease symptoms in women, let’s have a quick refresher on the Lyme disease basics. 

Lyme disease, also known as Borreliosis, is an infectious disease spread by ticks worldwide. In the United States, it is transmitted by the black-legged tick or deer tick in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north-central parts of the country, and the western black-legged tick on the Pacific coast. These ticks carry a spiral-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Symptoms in Women

Diagnosing Lyme disease can be complex because its symptoms can mimic many other illnesses, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and certain autoimmune disorders. Some of the most common symptoms of Lyme disease include:

• Joint pain
• Stiff neck
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills and fever

These symptoms are common in both men and women, but what about symptoms that are specific to women? It turns out Lyme disease may dramatically affect women more than men.

When it comes to Lyme disease symptoms, women may experience:

• More atypical Lyme rashes
• Higher inflammatory and immune responses
• Higher prevalence of common symptoms like muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, numbness and tingling, and changes in vision

Lyme Disease Disproportionately Affects Women

It’s not just Lyme disease symptoms that can vary between men and women; the diagnosis and prevalence of the disease also vary between the sexes. 

The standard testing method recommended by the CDC is a two-tier method involving the ELISA test and Western blot. Although these are recommended, there are more accurate tests available. 

Furthermore, women have a much higher chance of a false negative on standard two-tier testing than men, meaning they are less likely to receive an accurate diagnosis. Much of this is because many scientific tests are done on men and not women out of pregnancy-related concerns or because the menstrual cycle can make research more complicated. 

Despite this, females are more likely to contract Lyme disease in the first place. This is because women have a significantly higher risk of being bitten by a tick. This risk rises even more for women ages 40 and over. 

Outside of testing and higher infection rates, women may respond differently to the infection and treatment. For example, they tend to have an exaggerated response to a Lyme infection, which may explain the more severe symptoms. Women may also have a higher treatment failure rate, potentially leading to more long-term complications. 

Lyme Disease and Female Reproductive Health

Another common concern about Lyme disease in women is how it may affect reproductive health and fertility. 

The CDC notes that untreated Lyme disease in pregnancy may lead to an infection of the placenta – the organ that delivers oxygen, nutrients, and blood to the developing fetus. Although rare, a pregnant person can spread the disease to the developing fetus.

Although research isn’t detailed on the exact effects of Lyme disease on female fertility, long-term symptoms that impair the immune system may also impact the menstrual cycle and fertility, much like an auto-immune disorder would. In addition, the medications used to treat Lyme disease may also have contraindications during pregnancy. 

Women and Chronic Lyme Disease

We’ve discussed how it may be more difficult for women to receive an accurate Lyme disease diagnosis and may be more resistant to treatment. Unfortunately, that also means they may be more susceptible to chronic Lyme disease and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. 

A strange long-term complication typically seen in older women is acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. This symptom involves bluish-red lesions on doughy-swollen skin, with the later stage causing skin atrophy, prominent blood vessels, and skin that appears shiny. People may also experience fibroid nodules on bony parts of the body. 

In cases of chronic Lyme disease, the hypothalamus, the master gland that affects the production of thyroid hormones, is affected by the infection, leading to an imbalance. While balanced hormones are important to everyone, low thyroid hormone levels can make pregnancy difficult and even lead to miscarriage. 

Lyme Disease Treatment and Prevention in Women

Because Lyme disease affects women disproportionately, it’s vital to know the potential symptoms, and your options for diagnosis and treatment. The first step to seeking treatment is diagnosis. 

We’ve seen how standard two-tier Lyme testing isn’t as accurate for women, which is why it’s vital to seek out more comprehensive testing through services like those offered at IGeneX. Antibiotics can treat most Lyme disease cases and other tick-borne infections after fast and accurate testing. It’s also important to know how to protect yourself from tick bites, remove a tick if you get bitten, as well as how to save it for testing.