Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering around nerve fibers in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This damage slows or blocks nerve signals, leading to a wide range of symptoms. Multiple sclerosis is significantly more common in women. Women are up to three times more likely to develop MS with the most common type, relapsing-remitting MS, being particularly prevalent among women. MS is typically diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

Autoimmune diseases are the third most prevalent disease category, outpaced only by cancer and heart disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, which typically defends the body against harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses, begins to attack healthy tissues causing inflammation and damage. These disorders disproportionately affect women, with approximately 80% of all autoimmune disease patients being women. Understanding why these diseases occur more frequently in women, their implications, and how they can be managed is a crucial area of study in modern medical science.