DISTANCE MATES SWAP DIRECTION WHEN PART OF COPY WITH MATES

Why are my distance mates swapping direction when I do a copy with mates command?  I am modeling a pipe assembly.  For threaded connections I use distance mates to set the thread engagement for the male/female threads.  When use the copy with mates command the dimension gets swapped as shown in picture.  I would like to know why SW is doing this and how I can get it to stop.  I am using SOLIDWORKS Premium 2022 SP5.0.  Thanks.  Brownlee.