Temporomandibular disorders and hormones in women

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are loosely defined as an assorted set of clinical conditions, characterized by pain and dysfunction of the masticat ory system. Pain in the masticatory muscles, in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and in associated hard and soft tissues, limitation in jaw function , and sounds in the TMJ are common symptoms. That women make up the majorit y of patients treated for TMD is extensively hypothesized and documented in numerous epidemiological studies. Certain contradictory studies exist whic h propose that there are no statistically significant gender differences in the actual incidence of changes in joint morphology, Nonetheless, extensiv e literature suggests the disorder is 1.5-2 times more prevalent in women t han in men, and that 80% of patients treated for TMD are women. The severit y of symptoms is also related to the age of the patients. Pain onset tends to occur after puberty, and peaks in the reproductive years, with the highe st prevalence occurring in women aged 20-40, and the lowest among children, adolescents, and the elderly. The gender and age distribution of TMD sugge sts a possible link between its pathogenesis and the female hormonal axis. In this review, we will use the hypothesis that the overwhelming majority o f patients treated for temporomandibular disorders are women and use the av ailable literature to examine the role of hormones in TMD. Copyright (C) 20 01 S. Karger AG, Basel.