A comprehensive new study involving nearly 240,000 women has found that estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives may significantly reduce the risk of a common chronic sinus condition known as chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). However, researchers found no strong link between menopause and the condition.
The findings were published in the February 2026 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Journal and offer new insights into how the relationship between menopause, systemic hormonal contraceptive use, and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) among U.S. adults.
What Is Chronic Rhinosinusitis?
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a long-term inflammation of the nasal and sinus passages that lasts for 12 weeks or more, causing symptoms such as nasal obstruction, drainage, impaired sense of smell, and facial pain or pressure. The condition affects between 2.1% and 13.8% of adults in the United States and contributes to more than $10 billion in healthcare costs annually.
What the Study Found
The study led by scientists from University of Illinois College of Medicine, analyzed two distinct cohorts: 38,749 women aged 40-60 for the menopause analysis, and 44,280 women aged 20-40 for the hormonal contraceptive analysis. Researchers found that women using estrogen-containing contraceptives had 29% lower odds of developing CRSsNP compared to those not using systemic hormonal contraceptives. However, no significant association was found between these contraceptives and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
“We know that inflammation differs between the biological sexes and that sex hormones play a role in inflammation – a relationship has been well established in asthma and other inflammatory diseases. Relatively little research, however, has examined the role of biological sex and sex hormones in CRS, another inflammatory airway disease,” said Victoria S. Lee, MD, senior author of the study and Associate Professor and Director of Research with the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
She noted that this study helps fill an important gap in understanding how sex hormones may affect sinus disease in women. While more long-term studies are needed, the findings may help doctors better understand women’s respiratory health and develop personalized treatment strategies in the future.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago, with support from the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program.
