Histamines and Hormones
LaForest et al (2005) found that lower income, living in the country, and being female were all factors contributing to reduced quality of life during pollen season for people with seasonal allergies. Wieringa et al (1999) reported that as young children (ages 6-7) boys were more likely to be diagnosed with hay fever, but by the teen years (13-14) girls had higher rates of hay fever. Wieringa et al suggest that this may be due to underreporting of symptoms by teen boys.
However, there's another factor that may influence the girls' experience of seasonal allergies. Hormones seem to play a role in many kinds of respiratory function, according to Becklake and Kauffmann's 1999 review, but have largely gone unstudied. Becklake and Kauffmann suggest there may be increased allergen sensitivity during some points in the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. Hamano et al (1998) found that hormone levels during pregnancy increased histamine reactions, leading to more severe allergy symptoms.
This may be the first time I've set out to cover something else and found an unexpected hormonal tie-in. It's tempting to use this as an explanation for my own experience with allergies. I never had any problem with seasonal allergies until I was 16 -- about a year after starting menses. The fact that I moved from a rural single-family home to an urban dormitory probably had more effect: Beasley et al (2000) point out that urban dwellers have higher prevalence of allergies, although whether this is a confound of pollution, socio-economic status, or reporting artifact is unclear.
However, there's another factor that may influence the girls' experience of seasonal allergies. Hormones seem to play a role in many kinds of respiratory function, according to Becklake and Kauffmann's 1999 review, but have largely gone unstudied. Becklake and Kauffmann suggest there may be increased allergen sensitivity during some points in the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy. Hamano et al (1998) found that hormone levels during pregnancy increased histamine reactions, leading to more severe allergy symptoms.
This may be the first time I've set out to cover something else and found an unexpected hormonal tie-in. It's tempting to use this as an explanation for my own experience with allergies. I never had any problem with seasonal allergies until I was 16 -- about a year after starting menses. The fact that I moved from a rural single-family home to an urban dormitory probably had more effect: Beasley et al (2000) point out that urban dwellers have higher prevalence of allergies, although whether this is a confound of pollution, socio-economic status, or reporting artifact is unclear.