Why Women Get Worse Hangovers Than Men, According to Science
If you've ever found yourself curled up in bed after a night out, wondering why your hangover feels ten times worse than your male friends’, it’s not your imagination. There's actual science behind it—and, frankly, it feels a little unfair.
The topic made waves recently after being discussed on ITV’s Lorraine, where resident doctor Dr Amir shed light on why women tend to suffer more from hangovers than men.
"This is really interesting," he said when asked about it. "So women have less of [alcohol dehydrogenase] than men do, so they take longer to break down alcohol as alcohol is floating around their body more, so they're more likely to feel effects of alcohol and then get a hangover the following day as well."
Alcohol dehydrogenase is the enzyme responsible for helping the body process alcohol. Since women have less of it, their systems take longer to clear alcohol from their bloodstreams. That means the effects of alcohol—like feeling tipsy, dehydrated, or just plain awful the next morning—hit harder and last longer.
It doesn’t end there. Dr Amir also pointed out that women typically have less circulating blood than men, which means alcohol becomes more concentrated in the body. Essentially, the same amount of alcohol can impact a woman more severely than it would a man.
But there’s more to the story. Hormones, particularly oestrogen, also play a role.
If you've ever found yourself curled up in bed after a night out, wondering why your hangover feels ten times worse than your male friends’, it’s not your imagination
"Oestrogen plays a part as it makes that alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme more efficient at breaking down alcohol," Dr Amir explained. That means the time of the month can influence how your body handles a glass of wine or a cocktail.
He added, "So actually, when you look at the menstrual cycle, for the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, your oestrogen levels are on the up, so you're more effective at breaking down alcohol, and less likely to get drunk, less likely to get a hangover.
"But the same when oestrogen levels drop, you're more likely to get drunk, more likely to get a hangover, and it's true after the menopause as well."
In short, hormonal fluctuations can either give your body a helping hand or make that hangover hit much harder. After menopause, when oestrogen levels drop permanently, women may find themselves more sensitive to alcohol than they used to be.
It’s not about tolerance, it's about biology
"You might not be able to enjoy the drinks that you used to when you were younger because your oestrogen levels are lower, you don't break down alcohol as efficiently, and you're more likely to get a hangover too," Dr Amir concluded.
So if you’ve ever felt betrayed by your body the morning after a few drinks, now you know why. It’s not about tolerance, it's about biology. Does that mean the party days are over? Not necessarily—but maybe they come with a bit more water and a lot more planning.
