Not only men
Gout in women
Gout is more common in men, but women get it too. It tends to show up later in life.
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Women get gout
NIAMS says gout is more common in men than in women. More common in men does not mean it only happens to men. A woman with a hot, swollen joint deserves the same careful look for gout, for infection, and for other causes.
After menopause
NIAMS says women usually do not develop gout before menopause, which is why women tend to develop it at a later age than men, and it lists menopause among risk factors. The Arthritis Foundation says gout tends to affect women after menopause, when they lose the protective effects of estrogen. This page does not give a number for how much the risk changes.
Where it shows up
The big toe is the classic starting place, but not the only one. NIAMS says gout can affect other joints. The Arthritis Foundation notes that people with osteoarthritis in their fingers may have their first gout flare in their finger joints. CPPD, a look-alike more common in older adults, is on Pseudogout and gout.
Ask about it
If you have joint flares that come and go, it is reasonable to ask whether gout is possible, and whether a joint fluid test or imaging would help. The other risk factors, such as kidney function, some medicines, and family history, are on Causes and triggers. A question list is on Questions to ask.
Clinical claims on this page follow the sources.