Man flu is a colloquial term referring to the perception that men experience more severe symptoms when afflicted with the common cold or flu-like illnesses.
[3] Since then, the term gained recognition in popular culture and became the subject of discussions surrounding the perceived severity of symptoms experienced by men during respiratory illnesses.
[11] While initially dismissed as a cultural trope, the notion of 'man flu' has prompted scientific investigation into potential physiological differences between men and women in their response to viral infections.
According to researchers at the University of Cambridge, evolutionary factors may have led women to develop more rigorous immune systems than men due to differing reproductive strategies.
[16] In addition, a 2011 study conducted at the University of Queensland suggests that female hormones, such as oestrogens, aid pre-menopausal women in fighting infections, but the protection is lost after menopause.
[17] The scientific community continues to research the validity and significance of perceived sex differences in symptom severity and immune response to viral illnesses.
[24] Despite addressing significant scientific findings, the BMJ article maintained a light-hearted tone in keeping with the traditions of its Christmas edition, and as such, is not directly intended to infer the existence of man flu.