Exploring the Gender Gap in Allergy Responses: What You Need to Know

gender gap in allergies, gender differences in allergies, gender differences in food allergies, food allergies in women, food allergies in men, gender and anaphylaxis

In 2021, nearly 1 in 3 adults and more than 1 in 4 children reported having a food allergy, eczema, or seasonal allergy in the United States. The prevalence and severity of allergic responses vary between women and men, mainly due to biological, hormonal, and immune system differences.

Understanding the Gender Gap in Allergies

Allergic reactions can range from mild sensitivities to life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis in men and women. While mild and severe allergic reactions affect millions worldwide, gender plays a significant role in how individuals respond to allergies. The most common allergies are food allergies, inhalant allergies, medication allergies, latex allergies, and insect allergies.

Research shows that women are more likely to have seasonal allergies, eczema, and food allergies than men. Yet men experience more allergies in childhood but often see a decline as they age. So you might be asking, are allergies more common in men or women?

Are Allergies More Common in Women or Men?

Men and women can both develop allergies, however, women tend to experience more severe allergic reactions. Adult women are more prone to conditions such as food allergies, anaphylaxis, and asthma. Meanwhile, men are more likely to have allergies in early childhood, but they often grow out of them as they age.

Allergies are more frequently diagnosed in male patients under 15 years of age, typically before they hit puberty. However, adult women were more likely to have a diagnosed allergy, including eczema, food allergy, and seasonal allergy. This gender gap is mainly due to hormonal fluctuations in testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Testosterone has anti-inflammatory effects and regulates inflammation, while estrogen and progesterone increase inflammation by activating immune cells. As boys experience higher levels of testosterone with age, they are less likely to experience allergies and allergic reactions. Just as women age and experience higher estrogen and progesterone levels, they are more likely to experience severe allergies and reactions, like anaphylaxis.

Gender Differences in Allergies and Anaphylaxis

Ultimately, in childhood, boys tend to have more prevalent allergies than girls. In adulthood, women surpass men with higher rates of allergies. The gender gap in allergy responses is an area of study that emphasizes the impact of hormonal, biological, and immune function differences on allergic reactions in men and women. These gender differences significantly influence how allergic diseases develop, manifest, progress, and are treated.

Biological and Hormonal Factors

One of the key reasons behind the gender gap in allergies is the role of sex hormones, particularly testosterone and estrogen. High estrogen levels can amplify immune system responses, making allergic reactions more severe in women.

Estrogen can directly activate immune cells and trigger the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly in situations where estrogen levels fluctuate or are abnormally high. This could explain why women tend to experience more severe symptoms and allergic reactions from anaphylaxis and asthma.

Male sex hormones like testosterone suppress allergic responses in men by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas women’s hormones aggravate them. Men with low levels of testosterone, however, are more susceptible to developing allergies.

Immune System Differences Between Men and Women

The female immune system tends to be more reactive than in males. While a more reactive immune response offers better protection against infections for women, it also makes them vulnerable to autoimmune disease and more severe allergic reactions. The gender gap in allergic diseases partly results from an imbalance in Th2 immune response and IgE levels.

Food Allergy Triggers and Anaphylaxis

Women are more prone to developing food allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, berries, and fruits. More women are recorded with food allergies from puberty on compared to men, revealing a link to female sexual hormones and allergies. Women are also more susceptible to severe anaphylactic reactions, accounting for more than 60% of documented cases of anaphylaxis.

Asthma and Respiratory Allergies

Asthma and hay fever in women correlate with irregular menstruation, intake of contraceptives, pregnancy, and peri- and postmenopausal women. During childhood, asthma is relatively more common in boys and they are more likely to experience hospitalization for asthma exacerbation.

After puberty, increased testosterone levels tend to protect against Th2-mediated airway inflammation, while estrogen increases it. In turn, women suffer from more severe asthma attacks and higher hospitalization rates for asthma. Adult women with asthma are more likely to experience persistent and severe symptoms compared to adult men.

Gender-Specific Treatments for Allergic Diseases

Understanding the gender gap in allergic diseases and responses is essential for effective treatment protocols, raising awareness, and ensuring that men and women receive gender-specific care. Gender-specific allergy treatments are necessary because allergies manifest differently in women and men.

Allergic diseases are treated in different ways, depending on the type of allergy and its severity. The most common types of treatments for allergies include:

  • Antihistamines
  • Nasal corticosteroids
  • Decongestants
  • Epinephrine for anaphylaxis
  • Oral immunotherapy (OIT)
  • Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)

Healthcare professionals must consider gender-specific differences when diagnosing and treating allergic diseases. Patients with diagnosed allergies should know how their condition and symptoms may fluctuate based on hormonal and biological factors.

For those with mild or severe allergies, being informed about how your gender influences reactions could be life-saving. If you experience allergy symptoms, such as hives, rash, itching, nausea, or shortness of breath, consult a medical professional immediately. Seeing an allergist can help identify your specific allergies and create a management plan tailored to your needs.

 

 

References:

related Articles

  • Young adult student with a purple backpack and water bottle standing on sunlit campus steps under green trees
    Heading to College With a Severe Food Allergy: A Plan
    September 16, 2026

    A 504 plan does not follow a student to college, and the highest-risk years for fatal food reactions begin right as they leave home. Preparation covers campus dining, housing, roommates, and the emergency route.

  • Mother kneeling to eye level with her young daughter in a sunlit kitchen, a small green medical pouch on the counter
    Needle-Free Epinephrine Cleared for Younger Children
    September 9, 2026

    The FDA removed the age requirement from epinephrine nasal spray on March 26, 2026, so eligibility now rests on weight alone. Here is what that means for families of younger children, and what stays exactly the same in an emergency.

  • Small blank white skin patch on a young child's upper arm while a parent rests a hand on their shoulder
    Peanut Allergy Patch: How Viaskin Immunotherapy Works
    September 2, 2026

    Viaskin Peanut is an investigational skin patch that delivers small daily doses of peanut protein to desensitize children with peanut allergy, without swallowing anything or getting an injection. Phase 3 trial results show promising response rates, but the patch is not yet FDA approved and families still need a complete allergy action plan and epinephrine on hand.