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Gout may be indirectly associated with menopause because it occurs more often as adults get older. When women are affected, it is usually after age 50 and especially after menopause.
The direct link may be between estrogen and urate crystals. The crystals which are formed as a result of gout are deposited around the tendons and joints. Estrogen hormone seems to prevent the formation of these crystals. Estrogen levels drop after menopause, which may increase a woman's risk of gout.
Women have two other risk factors for gout. One is the fact that osteoarthritis of the small joints of the hand is more common among women. Loss of normal joint cartilage and smooth moving surfaces increases the risk of gout.
Women are also more likely to need diuretics (water pills). The use of diuretics appears to be linked with a higher incidence of gout. Women tend to retain urate more than men do. Elevted urate levels in the blood can (but doesn't always) lead to gout.
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