Men experience more severe symptoms from colds and influenza than women do.

the verdict

REFUTED

the evidence says no

Recorded sources

0 sources for · 1 against

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Is it true that men experience more severe symptoms from colds and influenza than women do?

No. One study of 897 influenza-like illness cases found women reported significantly more severe symptoms than men, including hoarseness, fatigue, earache, muscle ache, nausea and sore throat, and higher severity scores on days 3-7. This directly contradicts the claim that men experience more severe cold and flu symptoms.

Verdict: REFUTED · 0 sources for, 1 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

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Evidence against · 1

Differences in Self-Reported Severity of Symptoms Between Women and Men Experiencing Influenza-Like Illness -

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Differences in Self-Reported Severity of Symptoms Between Women and Men Experiencing Influenza-Like Illness - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofw172.974

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