Women who lust over handsome men may really be craving their immune systems

Their chiseled faces and toned bodies are a sign that they have more antibodies to fight off diseases. And women are hardwired to want to pass these genes on to the children. Women might be more attracted to men with high levels of the sex hormone testosterone because they have a healthier immune system. Sexual characteristics in male faces are testosterone-dependent, but how the sex hormone affects immune function is unclear. Researchers found that men with a strong immune response had high levels of testosterone and were perceived as more attractive. Men with low levels of testosterone tended to have higher concentrations of cortisol, suggesting that their immune responses might have been inhibited by the stress hormone.