where. you are in life can change your HAE needs

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How your HAE affects you can change at different points in your life (including childhood, teenage years and adulthood).1 Some of these changes are due to the ways in which hormones change at different life stages.1–3

Indeed, many people experience their first HAE attacks or an increase in attacks during puberty, most likely due to the hormonal and emotional changes that happen at this time.2,4 Hormonal changes can occur throughout life, including if you menstruate, get pregnant or experience menopause.1–3

This is the place to find out how changes through life can affect your HAE.

Menstruation (periods)

If you have periods, you may notice that they can affect your HAE. Menstruation and ovulation may trigger HAE attacks, so you may notice that you experience attacks more frequently at certain times of the month.2,3

It can be difficult to know whether abdominal pain is an HAE attack or related to your period – especially if you have endometriosis.2 Very severe pain may indicate an HAE attack and require treatment. If this affects you, talk with your HAE care team about any concerns.

It may also help to track your periods, if you do not already, so you know when to be on the lookout for the signs of an attack.

Pregnancy

The natural hormonal changes that occur throughout and after pregnancy may also change the patterns of your HAE attacks.1,2 If you are planning to get pregnant, there is no definite way to know exactly how this will affect your HAE. Some people notice an increase in how often they have an attack, while others find they have fewer and less severe attacks during pregnancy.1,2 After giving birth, many find that how often they have attacks returns to normal while for others, there is a permanent change in their HAE.2

If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, talk to your HAE care team about how it might affect your condition.

If you are currently trying to avoid getting pregnant, you may be taking a contraceptive medication.1,2 People who use contraceptives that contain oestrogen have reported an increase in the frequencies of attacks or severity, likely due to changing hormonal levels.1,2 If this is a concern, you could talk to your HAE care team about alternative birth control options.

Menopause

The menopause is another time of big bodily change which affects your hormone levels. It can lead to changes in the frequency and severity of HAE attacks.1,2 If you are experiencing the menopause and considering hormone replacement therapy, talk with your HAE care team about your options.

REFERENCES

  1. All About HAE. All about living a full, active life with HAE. [Last accessed January 2023]
  2. Banerji A et al. Womens Health (Lond) 2016; 12(3): 351–361
  3. Peixoto da Costa JE et al. Arch Clin Biomed Res 2019; 3(5): 343–356
  4. Sabharwal G et al. F1000Res 2017; 6: F1000 Faculty Rev-1205