Hormones and lipedema: puberty, pregnancy, your cycle and menopause
Hormonal changes, such as those of puberty, pregnancy, menopause and birth control use, can trigger or worsen lipedema symptoms. Sex hormones influence fluid retention, but their role as a cause of lipedema has not yet been proven. Tracking your symptoms alongside your hormonal phases helps you see your own pattern.
In short
- Hormonal phases are common times for symptoms to begin or get worse
- The role of hormones as a cause has not yet been proven
- Do not change or stop hormones on your own
- Tracking phases alongside symptoms helps you see your pattern
Puberty
This is the phase when many women notice the first signs: the body changes in a disproportionate way, and this is often mistaken for the family's body type or for weight gain.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can mark the beginning or a worsening of the signs. Talk with the professional handling your prenatal care about compression and movement during this period.
Birth control and hormone replacement
The NHS lists taking the contraceptive pill among the possible causes. The US guideline suggests, when the hormone is necessary, considering lower doses in birth control or replacement therapy. Any change should be discussed with your professional, weighing the benefits and risks in your case.
Menstrual cycle
The guidelines we consulted do not describe a pattern of lipedema throughout the cycle. If you notice a difference in pain or swelling during certain phases, noting the phase alongside your symptoms helps you see whether it is a pattern of yours and bring it up at your appointment.
Menopause
This is another phase when symptoms may appear or get worse, according to the Brazilian Lipedema Consensus and the NHS.
What we know and what we don't know yet
What we know
- Puberty, pregnancy and menopause can trigger or worsen symptoms
- The condition affects women almost exclusively
What we don't know yet
- Whether hormones cause lipedema or only influence the symptoms
- Whether any type of birth control or hormone replacement is safer for people with lipedema
When to seek professional care
- Before starting, switching or stopping any hormone
- If your symptoms clearly got worse after a hormonal change
- During pregnancy, to adjust compression and care
Frequently asked questions
Should I stop taking birth control?+−
Not on your own. Talk with your professional: the decision takes into account why you use it, the risks and your symptoms. The US guideline suggests considering lower doses when the hormone is necessary.
My pain changes during the month. Is it the lipedema?+−
It could be, but the guidelines we consulted do not describe this pattern. Tracking your cycle phase alongside your symptoms helps you see whether it repeats and bring it up at your appointment.