Johns Hopkins researchers found that men and women often show different early symptoms, like sleep issues, and lab results for Lyme disease, suggesting that diagnosis may need to account for sex-specific differences.
Many people with Lyme disease notice symptoms that are not always easy to identify. A new Johns Hopkins Medicine study reveals that these symptoms can appear differently in men and women, highlighting important sex differences in disease presentation. This research could help doctors recognize Lyme disease sooner and adjust treatments to fit each patient better, improving disease diagnosis and care.
What Sets the Early Stages Apart for Men and Women
The team at Johns Hopkins Medicine examined medical records from 243 adults diagnosed with early Lyme disease. This group included 118 women and 125 men, aged 20 to 84. Their review found clear differences in how the illness showed up in men compared to women, emphasizing the importance of considering both sex and menopause status when assessing symptoms.
Men were more likely to have positive laboratory abnormalities and more obvious signs of Lyme disease at the time they saw a doctor. These differences appeared even though both men and women had been sick for about the same length of time. The study, published in Clinical and Experimental Medicine on February 7, 2026, underscores the need for more nuanced clinical research in this area.
Lyme disease is a common bacterial infection spread through the bite of a blacklegged tick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year. The infection often starts with a red, round skin rash and can lead to a range of other symptoms beyond the classic presentation.
One Detail Makes All the Difference in Early Symptoms
When the researchers looked at symptoms, they noticed some patterns that stood out. Women were more likely to experience heart palpitations, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Heart palpitations were reported by 11.9% of women, compared to 4% of men. Vomiting was reported by less than 1% of men but by 7.6% of women. Light sensitivity affected 17% of women and 8.8% of men, suggesting that light sensitivity is an important but often overlooked symptom in female patients.
Meanwhile, men were more likely to report trouble sleeping, with 40% of men having sleep issues compared to 24.6% of women. These findings suggest that the usual list of Lyme disease symptoms might overlook important signs, especially in women, which could impact both early clinical Lyme disease detection and the approach to treating Lyme disease.
A closer look at what changes after menopause
“Males and females are different. For both findings, the male group was more similar to females who had undergone menopause and more different from females who had not.” — John Aucott, M.D., Director, Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center
This points to a possible link between hormones and how Lyme disease appears. The study suggests that menopause status and menopausal symptoms may also influence the differences seen between men and women, which could have implications for potential treatments and long-term outcomes.
How These Findings Could Change Diagnosis and Care
The differences in symptoms and lab results could have real effects for patients. If women’s symptoms are less clear or show up in different ways, doctors might not spot Lyme disease as quickly. This could delay both diagnosis and treatment, which is important for preventing more serious health problems and chronic illness.
Clearer lab results in men may help doctors identify Lyme disease earlier. The research highlights the need to consider both sex and menopause status when diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, and it may also inform future Lyme disease prevention strategies.
Researchers note that these differences do not mean one group has a milder or more severe form of the disease. Instead, they show that Lyme disease looks different in men and women, and both groups may need different approaches for diagnosis and care. This understanding could eventually lead to more personalized approaches in life sciences and clinical care.
What Researchers Want to Uncover Next
The Johns Hopkins team plans to continue exploring why these differences exist. They believe hormone levels could play a key role, but other biological factors might also be involved. Understanding these causes could help develop better tests and treatments for everyone with Lyme disease.
Another important issue is how these differences might affect long-term outcomes. If women are diagnosed later because their symptoms are less obvious, it could impact their recovery or increase the risk of ongoing symptoms. With so many people affected by Lyme disease each year, finding answers is a top priority for the research center and the broader scientific community.
Recognizing that men and women may experience Lyme disease differently is an important step toward better care. As research goes forward, doctors may be able to use these findings to catch Lyme disease earlier and improve outcomes for all patients, while also contributing to advances in the field of life sciences.
Source: News Medical