Why are males more often affected by sex-linked traits than females? September 21, 2022 by 8i9x6 Male hormones such as testosterone often alter the effects of mutations on the X chromosome. Female hormones such as oestrogen often compensate for the effects of mutations on the X chromosome. X chromosomes in males generally have more mutations than X chromosomes in females. Males are hemizygous for the X chromosome. See Answer Males are hemizygous for the X chromosome.