Graves’ disease (GD) affects about 1 in 200 people and can occur in people of all ages. It affects 3% of women and 0.5% of males over the world, showing a 6:1 female-to-male ratio (National Organization for Rare Disorders, 2023). The highest incidence occurs between the ages of 30 and 60 years, with a population prevalence of 1–1.5% (Kahaly et al., 2018). Thyroid disorders are more common in women due to the female hormonal changes throughout different stages of their life, such as estrogen and thyroxin (Clarance, 2023). Therefore, the risk for women having GD is higher than males because women have more hormonal changes than men (VinMec International Hospital, n.d.).
Thyroid disorders also have a relation to GD as they are often triggered by autoimmune responses, in which the body’s immune system starts to attack its own cells. GD is more prevalent in females because thyroid hormones tend to fluctuate during menstrual cycles. Women during and after menopause may have thyroid problems as the hormone levels experience changes. Consequently, some women may confuse the symptoms of thyroid disorders with the effects of menopause, which can prevent them from seeking treatment (Stre, n.d.).