Which condition is more common in women than in men, according to the data?

• A. Cystitis
• B. Hepatitis
• C. Pancreatitis
• D. Cholecystitis

Answer: (A)

Cystitis is more common in women primarily because of anatomy and exposure factors. Women have a much shorter urethra, which means bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to reach the bladder. The urethral opening is also located closer to the anus, increasing the chance that rectal bacteria such as E. coli can enter and ascend into the bladder. Sexual activity can further elevate the risk, and hormonal and age-related factors during a woman’s life can influence susceptibility as well. Because of these factors, urinary tract infections—manifesting as cystitis—occur much more frequently in women than in men, making it the condition with the strongest female predominance in typical data.

Hepatitis involves liver inflammation and comes from viral infections or other causes that affect both sexes without a strong, universal female bias. Pancreatitis is more tied to risk factors like alcohol use and certain metabolic conditions and tends to affect men more in many populations, though patterns can vary. Cholecystitis related to gallstones affects both genders, with some differences in gallstone risk, but not to the same extent as the clear female predominance seen with cystitis.