The Claim
Higher testosterone levels are associated with increased infection risk and lower parasite load in adolescents aged 12–19 infected with Trichuris trichiura.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In adolescents aged 12–19 infected with Trichuris trichiura, higher testosterone levels are linked to a greater likelihood of infection and a reduced number of parasites.
See the scientific wording
Higher testosterone levels are associated with increased infection risk but lower parasite load among adolescents aged 12–19 infected with Trichuris trichiura.
Higher testosterone reduces the immune system's ability to fight off whipworms at first, making infection more likely. Once infected, testosterone shifts the immune response to calm down inflammation, which stops the body from damaging itself too much and causes fewer worms to be detected in the stool.
What the research says
1 studyIn teens, higher testosterone levels made it more likely they got whipworm, but if they did get it, they had fewer worms in their poop. So testosterone makes infection more likely but helps control the number of worms.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.