This is why women are more cold than men, according to several studies

Previous studies have found that men and women are not equal when it comes to temperatures. Indeed, according to scientists, women are more sensitive to the cold. In an article from Le Monde/DecodersDimitra Gkika, lecturer in physiology at the University of Lille, highlights the origin of these differences.

Influence of testosterone on sensitivity to cold

According to a 2015 study, thermal comfort varies depending on gender. The ideal ambient temperature would be 22 to 24° for men and 24.5 to 26° for women. A difference of 2 degrees all the same!

According to researchers, the level of testosterone in the body determines sensitivity to heat. The higher it is, the more the person resists cold temperatures. For what ? Because testosterone would inhibit the protein that initially detects ambient temperature. Furthermore, as testosterone levels decrease with age, older men may be more sensitive to cold.

Women produce less testosterone and they make more estrogen, which significantly thickens the blood and prevents it from flowing easily to the extremities of the body.

A study from Utah, dating from 1998, revealed that if the temperature of women’s hands was lower than that of men, it is because estrogen levels influence the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.

Mechanisms increasing sensitivity to cold in women

During the period of ovulation, the woman would be more sensitive to the cold. Indeed, the progesterone released during this period increases the body’s internal temperature and therefore its sensitivity to cold. A woman would also have more difficulty tolerating the cold if she uses oral contraception.

On the other hand, studies have shown that muscle mass generates heat, while fat mass does not. These factors then affect an individual’s sensitivity to ambient temperature. It is important to note that on average women are smaller and have lower muscle mass than men.

Finally, according to a Chinese study dating from 2021, the amount of energy burned by the body at rest is lower in women.

All these mechanisms would thus help to explain the difference in sensitivity to cold between the two sexes.

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