Lay opinion vs evidence: CRP Frauen

CRP (C-reactive protein) is a well-established but non-specific marker of inflammation. A common lay opinion is that CRP levels in women are primarily driven by hormones (e.g., estrogen during menopause). However, the evidence shows that lifestyle factors (obesity, smoking, physical activity), infections, and chronic inflammatory diseases have a much larger impact. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle or menopause can modestly influence CRP, but the effect is small and usually not clinically meaningful. The provided context does not include specific studies on CRP in women, so the evidence grade is 'unclear'. Caveat: Elevated CRP requires medical evaluation; self-interpretation based on lay opinions or direct-to-consumer tests is not advised.