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<\/p>\nI thought it was over. I was wrong.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s been years since I\u2019ve read something so stupid that I stop in my reading and utter what the hell. Just when I thought the media had discovered editors I came across this gem: \u201cNeuropsychiatric events caused by systemic lupus erythematosus are associated with active disease, male sex, corticosteroids and concurrent non-lupus events, except headaches, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n No apologies. It was the headline in an e-mail today. How could I let it go?<\/p>\n Did you see it? Did it make sense to you? And just what the hell do they mean?<\/p>\n Male sex.<\/strong><\/p>\n Not male sex hormones. Not male sex positions. Not even male gender. No. It says male sex.<\/strong><\/p>\n I have questions.<\/p>\n First. In all the years I\u2019ve been involved with lupus as a patient, a leader, and an educator, I was told that 90% of lupus patients are female. I\u2019ve also been told that it is most likely has something to do with female hormones. Note: nothing here says male sex. Could they possibly mistype those words? If not, just what the hell did they mean?<\/p>\n Second. Do the writers of these words mean having sex with males? Does that mean neuropsychiatric lupus is contagious<\/p>\n ? That gives an entirely new meaning to sexually transmitted.<\/p>\n Third. I understand that the enjoyment of sex has something to do with the brain, even if that isn\u2019t where it\u2019s felt, but how does that lead anyone to believe that male sex makes a person more susceptible to neuropsychiatric events? Or do I have that backward?<\/p>\n Fourth. Does having neuropsychiatric lupus cause a person to have male sex? We could be in trouble if we go down this lane?<\/p>\n Fifth. Does everyone who has male sex have neuropsychiatric lupus?<\/p>\n It\u2019s all becoming a bit too much for me.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to stop here and offer my editing services. Or perhaps I\u2019ll stop and enjoy the images and laughter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a9 2021 Wanda M. Argersinger<\/p>\n All Rights Reserved<\/p>\n