Interview study, 2025
Can hormones from the menstrual cycle cause sacroiliac joint inflammation?
It is possible but not yet proven. This review suggests that hormone changes during the late menstrual cycle might temporarily cause inflammation in sacroiliac joints, especially in women with PCOS.
What they did
Reviewed published research on how hormones (relaxin and estradiol) affect sacroiliac joint structure and inflammation. Looked at studies of pregnancy, postpartum, and hormonal conditions like PCOS. Combined results from imaging studies, animal studies, and biomechanical research.
What they found
In pregnancy and after birth, 58-80% of women showed bone marrow swelling in the sacroiliac joint on imaging scans. These changes appeared to be hormone-driven, not true inflammation that causes permanent damage. In labs, relaxin and estradiol broke down collagen and loosened ligaments. In other joints, relaxin spikes caused instability and small injuries.
What it means for you
This review proposes that hormone surges during the late menstrual cycle might temporarily damage sacroiliac joint tissue in some women, especially those with PCOS. This could explain why some women have cyclical joint pain. The main limitation is that this is a proposed theory - actual studies testing this have not been done yet.
58-80%
Prevalence of bone marrow swelling in early postpartum
About the study
- Original title
- Hormonal Modulation and Transient Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation: A Narrative Review With a Hypothesis on Premenstrual Sacroiliitis in Hyperandrogenic Women
- Authors
- Sepideh Tahsini Tekantapeh, Mehrzad Hajialilo, Afshin Iranpour
- Journal
- International Journal of Drug Research in Clinics
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Interview study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.34172/ijdrc.2025.e18
Topics
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