What is osteoarthritis?
This is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the cartilage of one’s bones breaks down. As the cartilage wears away, symptoms such as joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness can occur in affected areas. It can also reduce flexibility, making it harder for people to bend the affected joint or have a full range of motion. While the hands, knees, and hips are the most commonly affected areas of the body, osteoarthritis can occur in any part of the body.
How prevalent is osteoarthritis?
Over 300 million people worldwide suffer from osteoarthritis. Within the United States specifically, it is the leading cause of work disability, and approximately 32.5 million Americans have this condition.
Why is this an important topic in women’s health?
Women experience this condition more commonly than men, with about 62% of individuals suffering from osteoarthritis being women. On top of this, women typically have more severe symptoms, causing them to be at an increased level of disability.
For example, around 10% of women versus 7% of men have knee osteoarthritis between the ages of 40 and 49.
After the age of 50, gender disparities amongst those with osteoarthritis become more evident. At this age, there is a sharp increase in the number of women suffering from the condition.
Adding to this, of adults between the ages of 60 and 69, around 35% percent of women versus 19% of men have this condition, illustrating this increased contrast in prevalence based on gender.
On top of this, amongst adults aged 50-60, women are 3.5 times more likely to develop this condition than men, as well as 40% more likely to develop knee osteoarthritis and 10% more likely to have this condition in their hips.
What creates this increased prevalence of osteoarthritis in women?
Some research suggests that this is due to increased joint pain from hormone changes during menopause. During times of increased estrogen levels, such as when a woman is on her period or pregnant, more looseness can occur in joints such as the knee joints. Joint instability can increase the risk of injury, and both of these lead to an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. Plus, during the menopausal transition stage, estrogen levels begin to drop, which may accelerate the development of osteoarthritis.
Additionally, weight gain is common during the transition into menopause. This can create increased stress on one’s joints as well as inflammation, both of which contribute to osteoarthritis. Plus, even without weight gain, women have been shown to undergo cartilage loss at a much faster rate than their male counterparts.
Anatomy also plays a role in the increased prevalence of this condition in women. Women have wider hips than men do, which can place more stress on places such as the outer part of the knee.
However, in line with the overall limited research into female-specific health issues, more research must be done into the causes of the increased risk of osteoarthritis in women.
How is osteoarthritis treated?
There is no cure for this condition. However, symptoms can be reduced through pain medications. Additionally, self-care can help to mitigate pain, such as using ice or heat on an affected joint and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Additionally, physical therapy can help individuals work on strengthening the muscles around their affected joint and reduce painful symptoms. With this, occupational therapy can provide solutions to completing everyday tasks while avoiding creating worse pain in the joint.
Sources:
By: Ana Bracilovic, MD. “Why Are Women More Prone to Osteoarthritis?” Arthritis, 26 Jan. 2021, http://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/why-are-women-more-prone-osteoarthritis.
Jaclyn McKenna, MD. “Why Women Are at Higher Risk for Getting Arthritis.” Hospital for Special Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 6 Mar. 2024, http://www.hss.edu/health-library/move-better/women-and-arthritis.
“Osteoarthritis.” Associates for Women’s Medicine, http://www.afwomensmed.com/health-library/hw-view.php?DOCHWID=hw125723. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
“Osteoarthritis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
“Osteoarthritis.” Society for Women’s Health Research, 30 Jan. 2025, swhr.org/health_focus_area/osteoarthritis/.
“Preventing Knee Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women.” EverydayHealth.Com, http://www.everydayhealth.com/womens-health/hormone-therapy-may-help-prevent-knee-pain-from-osteoarthritis-older-women/. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Tristate Arthritis & Rheumatology. “Why Are Women More Prone to Osteoarthritis?” Tristate Arthritis & Rheumatology, 21 May 2025, tristatearthritis.com/osteoarthritis/why-are-women-more-prone-to-osteoarthritis/#:~:text=After%20menopause%2C%20when%20women’s%20estrogen,increases%20the%20risk%20of%20osteoarthritis.
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