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Can female hormones help men survive COVID? Hope you can see the story without a subscription.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/health/coronavirus-estrog...

Comments

It takes a long time for hormones to make a difference

BarbieLee's picture

Despite what all of us as authors write in our stories, hormones takes a long time to kick in. And those pesky mail..., male hormones are still running wild too. I'm not trying to be crass but how many "men" are going to take female hormones and male blockers to "maybe" escape a virus which I believe has a kill rate of one in every twenty to forty? Even less if all those previous carriers are found who show no symptoms at all.
"Sir, we have a treatment which may or may not work. We are willing to give it the old college try."
Him, "Are there any side effects?"
"Um, possible blood clotting, heart attack, loss of hair, muscle loss, thin skin."
Him. "That's it?"
"Welllll, we don't think your water weasel will really fall off. None of the stories have been confirmed. It usually shrinks up to a forth or less it's normal size. Sex will no longer be possible."
Him. "Don't think! Fall off! No sex? No thanks, I'll take my chances with that virus."
hugs people
Barb

Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl

What'll REALLY Be Interesting...

...would be if Mr Trump actually endorses the idea in his next briefing. (At least, if someone other than the NY Times prints it. Too easy now for him to dismiss it as Fake News.)

Eric

Hummm

Patricia Marie Allen's picture

I wonder if there were a study of trans women who are on hormones would it show that they are faring as well as genetic women?

What the hypothesis fails to take in account is the possibility that testosterone levels also may have an effect on how the virus works. I saw nothing in the article that said anything about suppressing testosterone.

Well, if they are right, then I'm ahead of the game. ;o)

Hugs
Patricia

Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt

If Suppressing...

If suppressing testosterone were a magic bullet, I could do that in a flash. Mine is supplied transdermally daily. All I'd have to do is stop applying the hormone-containing gel to my skin. (I'm hypogonadic and was developing osteoporosis, which is why it was prescribed.) Ironically, the estrogen in men, which is required for maintaining enough calcium in your bones, is from the catabolism of testosterone (a process called "aromatization"). I take just enough to maintain bone mass, not enough to "butch up." More ironically, I'm a cross-dresser who values whatever feminine characteristics I do have, although I do find comfort in having a foot in each camp. (Although, it's very hard to walk in only one high heel.)

Simple Answers...

Simple answers to complex problems are rare.

There's a lot of genes on that X-chromosome that have nothing to do with hormones. If there's something on the X-chromosome that could present a vulnerability to the virus, well... women get two different X-chromosomes, while men only get one. So, and this is also an oversimplification most likely, women might have only half the vulnerability of men. That would fit with the clinical observation of outcomes.

If they could figure out which gene it is, the search for a treatment would be greatly enhanced, but that's a LOT of genes.

COVID-19 and estrogen study.

COVID-19 and estrogen study.
They may want to look at the 1 to 2% of the population of males taking estrogen for prostate cancer, male to female transsexuals and males that have been castrated for some need or want.
If they want a leg up on this line of thought in Long Island in New York and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Just a thought from an idle mind.
Karmon