Dr. Natan Bar-Chama: “Why Men Get Sick More than Women”

Specifically, testosterone appears to weaken the immune response in men, according to a study in a January 2014 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Researchers found that high testosterone levels in men caused a lower immune response to vaccination against influenza, making them more vulnerable to the illness. "There could also be an evolutionary advantage for men to have a weaker immune response," said Natan Bar-Chama, MD, Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, and Associate Professor of Urology, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at The Mount Sinai Hospital. "A weaker immune response may have helped men survive trauma and injury, increasing their chances of survival." Learn more