Symptoms of celiac disease in men range from classic symptoms, such as diarrhea, weight loss, and fatigue, to more subtle signs of the condition, such as anemia and elevated liver enzymes. Men are more often diagnosed with celiac disease when they have classic symptoms. Doctors are less likely to suspect celiac disease in men with atypical symptoms. In addition, men are less likely than women to seek medical help for health problems. Studies show that the condition is slightly less common in men than in women, but it is also less commonly diagnosed in men than in women. Symptoms of celiac disease in men and women can include a variety of digestive, neurological and skin disorders. In men, symptoms of celiac disease include low weight and reflux. There are few studies that look specifically at what symptoms of celiac disease are more common in men than in women. For example, men with celiac disease are more likely to be underweight (a symptom often seen in combination with the classic symptoms of celiac disease) and to have significant intestinal malabsorption (meaning they don’t absorb nutrients from food when they eat it). In addition, men suffer more from celiac-related reflux and also experience more liver problems than women. Also, men suffer more often from an itchy skin rash – Dermatitis Herpetiformis (Dermatitis Herpetiformis) than women. Autoimmune diseases and infertility are also common in men with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder, and men are less likely to be diagnosed with it (not just celiac disease) than women. However, a study shows that about 30% of men with celiac disease also suffer from other autoimmune diseases (as do women). The findings show that, unlike men in the general population, men with celiac disease are just as susceptible as women with celiac disease to autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis (affecting the thyroid gland) and Sjögren’s syndrome. There is also a link between celiac disease and male infertility. Men with undiagnosed celiac disease have higher levels of abnormal sperm and abnormal hormones. Both sperm characteristics and hormone levels seem to improve and even normalize when following a gluten-free diet. Various researchers have speculated that fewer men are diagnosed with celiac disease because they are less likely than women to seek help for health problems. Therefore, many men are only diagnosed when they become seriously ill – when they become emaciated (and unable to perform activities due to fatigue) or develop diarrhoea. Celiac disease without symptoms is likely to go undiagnosed in men unless tests are done for some other reason. Bibliography: Bai D. et al. Effect of gender on the manifestations of celiac disease: evidence for greater malabsorption in men.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology Llorente-Alonso M. et al. Gluten intolerance: Sex- and age-related features. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology