Myths vs facts: tTG IgA and Wechseljahre

tTG IgA is a specific antibody test for celiac disease screening. A common myth is that menopause can elevate tTG IgA levels or cause false positives. In fact, there is no strong evidence that hormonal changes during menopause directly affect tTG IgA concentrations; the test's specificity remains high regardless of menopausal status. A key fact is that celiac disease is often underdiagnosed in perimenopausal women because overlapping symptoms (fatigue, bloating, joint pain) are mistakenly attributed to menopause. Additionally, IgA deficiency (prevalence ~1:500) can cause false negatives, requiring alternative IgG-based tests. Evidence is moderate: based on observational studies, not large RCTs. Definitive diagnosis still requires upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsy and clinical correlation. Consumer DNA or blood tests alone are insufficient for diagnosis or management.