Recent community-based studies   by independent government and university researchers have come to the same conclusion: CFIDS, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is approximately three times more common in women then men. This finding is similar to other immune-based illnesses, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis.

Female gender is one of the primary risk factors for CFIDS, although the cause for this has yet to be determined. What is certain is that the cost to families, individuals and society is considerable, as CFIDS often strikes women of childbearing age, during the time when they are most needed by their families and are most productive in work outside the home.

DIAGNOSIS

• CFIDS is defined by fatigue that is: medically unexplained; of new onset; of at least six months' duration; not the result of ongoing exertion; not substantially relieved by rest; and causes a substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities.
• The fatigue must be accompanied by four or more of the following symptoms: impaired memory or concentration; sore throat; tender neck or armpit lymph nodes; muscle pain; headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; unrefreshing sleep; post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours; and multi-joint pain.
• Physicians must exclude other causes of the symptoms prior to making a diagnosis of CFIDS. Conditions that would exclude a diagnosis include other medical disorders known to cause fatigue, primary major depressive illness, and alcohol or substance abuse.

PREVALENCE

• Women are more at risk of developing CFIDS than men, with 522 women afflicted per 100,000, compared to 291 men per 100,000.¹
• CFIDS is three times more common than HIV infection in women and 25 times more common than AIDS among women.²
• CFIDS is more prevalent in women than lung cancer (33/100,000) or breast cancer (26/100,000).²

MATERNAL/CHILD ISSUES

• There is very little available data on pregnancy and CFIDS . Anecdotal evidence suggests some women with CFIDS feel better during their pregnancy, but experience a relapse afterwards.
• Women with CFIDS may need more time to recuperate after birth and spend a longer time in the hospital following delivery than healthy new mothers.³
• Some practitioners have observed a higher rate of miscarriages in women with CFIDS.⁴ 
• It is unclear whether CFIDS can be passed on genetically from parent to child. However, in a recent study, the heritability rate of CFIDS was 55% for identical twins and 19% for fraternal twins,⁵ providing evidence that genes may play a role in the development of the illness.

OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS

• A higher percentage of women with CFIDS may experience irregular menstrual cycles, hormone imbalances affecting menstruation, and ovarian cysts than healthy women.⁶
• Some medical professionals suspect an association between CFIDS and endometriosis, but there are no conclusive data available.^6,7
• In February 2002, researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) presented data from a survey that shows women with endometriosis are at higher risk for developing CFIDS then the general population. Of the 3,680 women with sugically diagnosed endometriosis who were polled, 31 percent also had CFIDS or fibromyalgia, compared to less than 10 percent of the general population.
• Women and men with CFIDS may be at higher risk for osteoporosis, due to restrictive diets and inability to perform weight-bearing exercise.⁸

TREATMENT

• Treatment for women with CFIDS is intended primarily to relieve specific symptoms, such as difficulty sleeping, pain, gastrointestinal difficulties, allergies, dizziness and depression.
• Lifestyle changes, including increased rest, dietary restrictions and very light exercise, are also frequently recommended.
• Women with CFIDS may have unusual responses to medications, so low dosages should be tried first and gradually increased as appropriate.

ABOUT THE CFIDS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

• The CFIDS Association of America is the leading organization dedicated to conquering CFIDS and related disorders. Since 1987, the Association has invested more than $13 million in CFIDS education, public policy and research efforts.
• The Association's publishes, The CFIDS Chronicle,   the world's most authoritative and widely read source of information about CFIDS, and  The CFS Research Review, a source of information on diagnosis, treatment and research for medical professionals.

References
1. Jason et al. A community-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med. 1999; 159: 2129-37.
2. US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1998.
3. Carter B and McGarvie R. [title]. Emerge .1996; [page]
4. Jessop, C. Clinical features and possible etiology of CFIDS. The CFIDS Chronicle . Spring 1991; 71.
5. Buchwald et al. A twin study of chronic fatigue. Presented at 5th International AACFS Conference, January 26-29, 2001. 6. Harlow, BL et al. Reproductive correlates of chronic fatigue syndrome. Am J Med. 1998; 105:94S-99S.
7. Straus SE et al. Persisting illness and fatigue in adults with evidence of Epstein-Barr virus infection. Ann Intern Med. 1985;102: 7-16.
8. Hoskin L et al. Bone density and body composition in young women with chronic fatigue syndrome. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2000; 904: 625-7.