S. Lori Brown, H.J. Duggirala, and G. Pennello. “An Association of Silicone-gel Breast Implant Rupture and Fibromyalgia.” Current Rheumatology Reports: August 2002.
In 2002, researchers at the FDA published an article reviewing several studies that looked at the association between breast implants and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and stiffness, fatigue, and sleep issues. One study compared the health problems of women with ruptured silicone breast implants to those with intact silicone breast implants. The researchers found that women with ruptured implants who had silicone gel migrate outside the scar tissue capsule were 2.7 times more likely to report fibromyalgia symptoms.
The researchers also analyzed several other studies, which concluded that nearly 55% of breast implant patients with symptoms, had fibromyalgia. However, these studies had many limitations, for example they did not differentiate between women with ruptured implants and intact implants, and between silicone and saline implants. The results of their review suggest that breast implants, and specifically ruptured silicone implants, may contribute to fibromyalgia.
Read the original study here.