Is it simply that many of the risk factors (HBP, Heart disease, diabetes) are higher in men? Or is there something in males that allows the virus to replicate faster or more severly?

Maybe a woman in a man's life is as bad of an underlying condition as diabetes, heart issues and other such conditions??

LOL

Post-menopausal females are at higher risk than pre-menopausal. Mirroring HTN, CAD risks. So I think you answered the question yourself. A guess.

HAHAHA you must be a Dr....thanks for the laugh

On the behavior side, more men smoke and drink and are generally unhealthier and have more comorbities and high risk factors.

There apparently are some studies in mice that showed female hormones playing a part to protect women from viruses. When the ovaries were removed from the female mice, their susceptibility to coronaviruses went up.

Theory I've seen posited was that estrogen inhibits IL-6 production?

As you said, men generally have more health problems and risk factors earlier in life. Men also historically smoke and drink more than women.

Most acute infectious processes that effect both genders disproportionately effect men across almost all age demographics.

Don't the overall infection demographics skew male?

We've been telling women for years that colds affect us so much worse. Now maybe they'll believe it.

Pretty sure it is because women typically practice social distancing anyway - you know, being alone in the kitchen making sammiches.....

Nature needs more women than men in order to continue