I was wondering why it seems there are so many more women as opposed to men that contract lyme.Is there research to support that theory?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I think it's just that more women are diagnosed.
And, it seems that more women than men are likely to join a web forum for discussion, if that is how you are judging the split (as more women than men are certainly here at LymeNet).
Statically, though, men and women have the exact same chance of contracting lyme when bitten by an infected tick. A human host is a human host.
However, women may seek care more than men do. Just from my own observations, some men tend to keep quiet and certainly more prone to keep the perplexing symptoms that lyme brings to themselves out of fear of ridicule.
Women also tend to have a more complex hormonal system (some say but I think both are complex), however, for women who have been on birth control pills, that can compromise the whole endocrine system and then make an infection like lyme more devastating.
I also think that more women (than men) consume aspartame, a neurotoxic artificial sweetener in a lot of diet drinks and foods. THAT will make lyme much worse. -
Posted by norcal (Member # 29829) on :
Fear of ridicule,I am a man and there was no way that I could even walk! No hiding this for me. Thank you for you insight keebler!
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
norcal,
Perhaps most women seek out answers and most men suffer in silence?
I know I read somewhere that men do not expel/ detox heavy metals as easily as women...
Since heavy metals being in our system weakens certain enzymes and allows pathogens to take control more easily... in reality, I would think the numbers would be skewed the other way.
Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
Don't men have more robust immune systems to keep the infection at bay?
On another note I remember watching a Dr K autism conference and he said that metals love tesosterone.....which is why there are more autistic boys than girls.
Posted by Starfall (Member # 26795) on :
Men are more stubborn about vague sx. My husband has some vague sx (eyyes acting funny, weight loss, etc.) that no one can find a cause for, but since he had a negative lyme test, he refuses to accept that he may have lyme.
He knows what I went through with testing, and yet he still refuses to believe he has it.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lauralyme: On another note I remember watching a Dr K autism conference and he said that metals love tesosterone.....which is why there are more autistic boys than girls.
Thank you Lauralyme - that is where I heard that heavy metals statement. Should have known! I have been reading/ listening to a lot of Dr. K lately!
Posted by bashibazouks (Member # 28286) on :
My LLMD says his patients are 2/3 women and he thinks this is due to hormonal involvement, but the details are a little fuzzy... just like seemingly EVERYTHING else about this disease!