TLDR Men, particularly those with hair loss, are more likely to get the virus, and those with prostate cancer may have milder symptoms. Testosterone's role in the disease is unclear, and the virus doesn't seem to harm male fertility. Women with PCOS might be at higher risk. More research is needed.
The study "Androgens in SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Infections" found that men, especially those with androgenic alopecia, are up to two times more likely to contract the virus than women. Men undergoing androgen deprivation for prostate cancer tend to experience milder virus courses. The study suggests that both high and low androgen levels can influence the progression of the virus, acting as a "double-edged sword". It also mentions that women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) might have an increased risk of infection, but this is contradicted by other studies. The study concludes that the role of testosterone in the disease course is uncertain, and there's no evidence that the virus can negatively impact male fertility. Further research is needed to understand these relationships.
29 citations,
March 2021 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” Testosterone may influence COVID-19 severity and outcomes.
49 citations,
January 2021 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Anti-androgens, like finasteride, dutasteride, and spironolactone, may lessen the severity of COVID-19 in men, leading to fewer ICU admissions.
29 citations,
October 2020 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Women with high androgen levels may have more severe COVID-19 symptoms.
119 citations,
May 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Most COVID-19 patients in hospitals have androgenetic alopecia, more in men, suggesting a link between androgen sensitivity and severe COVID-19 symptoms.
123 citations,
May 2020 in “Drug Development Research” Men's sensitivity to male hormones might affect how severe COVID-19 gets for them.
71 citations,
April 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Genetic differences may affect COVID-19 deaths; anti-androgens could be potential treatment.
134 citations,
April 2020 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” Male pattern hair loss could hint at androgens affecting COVID-19 severity.
47 citations,
April 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Androgenetic alopecia linked to COVID-19 severity; drugs reducing androgen receptor activation may help.
14 citations,
May 2012 in “Endocrine Research” The same hormone can affect gene expression differently in various tissues, which could lead to new treatments for conditions like hair loss.
218 citations,
December 2011 in “Advances in Urology” The document concludes that the 5 alpha-reductase enzymes are important in steroid metabolism and related to various human diseases, with inhibitors used to treat conditions like male pattern baldness and prostate issues.
21 citations,
February 2021 in “BMJ case reports” Anabolic steroid users may face higher risk of severe COVID-19.
131 citations,
September 2017 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” The document concludes that blocking the internal pathways that create androgens might help treat cancers that depend on sex hormones.
14 citations,
January 2018 in “Advances in Clinical Chemistry” The document concludes that hormonal biomarkers are key for diagnosing hyperandrogenemia in women and hypogonadism in men.
