Hormonal factors such as estrogen, pregnancy, and abortion may be an explanation as to why lupus is known as the “woman’s disease.” Despite the fact that it can affect men and women of all ages, “lupus strikes 10 times as many women as men, many who first become ill during or immediately after a pregnancy” (Napier, 2002). As a matter of fact, most lupus studies, clinical or otherwise, are performed on females. When Yen, Neville, and Fortin (1999) talk about patients, they are referring to the female gender because “lupus affects predominantly women” (p. 662). There are more theories that have not yet panned out, but there are a number of symptoms that can lead a physician to suspect lupus.

Lupus is a very difficult illness to diagnose because its symptoms impersonate so many other inter-connective tissues diseases, such as arthritis. Symptoms of lupus can occur in a variety of ways. Patients with lupus report such diverse symptoms as achy or swollen joints, frequent fevers, prolonged or extreme fatigue, skin rashes, anemia, chest pain, rashes on the face, photosensitivity, hair loss, seizures, and mouth or nose ulcers (LFA, n. d.). Unlike other inter-connective tissue diseases that only affect one organ, lupus can involve many vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, etc. There are a number of tests you can take to help in the diagnosis of lupus. These tests, along with symptoms and the patient’s medical history combined, should be an effective determinant of the illness. With early diagnosis, there are several types of treatments that can make lupus controllable and manageable to live with.

For most lupus patients, treatments can be used to minimize flare-ups and other symptoms. Since lupus affects everyone in a different way, there is no one regimen that can help everyone infected. “Medications are often prescribed for people with lupus, depending on which organ(s) are involved and the severity of involvement” (LFA, 2001). Treatments have to be individualized depending on the person’s medical history, symptoms, etc. “Just as lupus symptoms take on a unique array in each lupus patient, treatment, from steroid medications to cancer drugs such as Cytoxan, must be carefully tailored to each patient” (Napier, 2002). Although medical treatments are a way of managing lupus, they cannot control symptoms by themselves. It is also necessary for patients to comply to treatment regimens recommended by their doctors and educate themselves in order to improve their quality of life. Even though most patients know that compliance is a big part of the overall goal, which is remission, they still tend to be noncompliant in some way.