While some people might experience a noticeable LH boost from cold exposure, others may see little change. Cold water immersion might stimulate LH release, potentially paving the way for higher testosterone production. Even a brief 15-minute cold plunge at 50°F (10°C) can keep cortisol levels lower for up to three hours . By reducing overall body fat, brown fat activation may help lower estrogen levels, improving the testosterone-to-estrogen ratio . Research by Susanna Soberg highlights how cold exposure can transform white fat - typically metabolically inactive - into energy-burning brown fat . This process can indirectly affect testosterone levels by improving the testosterone-to-estrogen balance. This complexity makes it difficult to predict exactly how cold plunges will affect an individual’s hormone levels.
Not permanently, but frequent or prolonged heat exposure can temporarily reduce sperm quality. If you’re planning conception, consider pausing sauna/hot tub use for ~3 months to allow a full cycle of sperm regeneration. Excessive time in hot tubs or saunas can reduce sperm count and motility, raising risks for those actively trying to conceive.
Furthermore, the data indicated that women who vocalized their pain during the test experienced a more substantial testosterone increase than those who remained silent. The primary objective of the research was to explore the relationship between testosterone and pain tolerance, using the cold pressor test to induce pain. While the cold may be uncomfortable, the potential rewards for hormonal health are meaningful. The explanation lies in the body’s primal response to extreme cold. This discovery challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding cold-water recovery. Luteinizing hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, plays a pivotal role in signaling the testes to produce testosterone. Their findings provided a glance into the body’s hormonal response to cold.
Many men have found that making dietary and lifestyle changes is the most efficient way to increase testosterone levels. A visit to the doctor isn’t always necessary to increase your testosterone levels, as testosterone therapy has remained popular in recent years and is a viable therapeutic choice for many men. Once your body returns to a cooler temperature, sperm production typically resumes as normal.
The placement of the scrotum — the sac in which the testes are held — outside of the body helps it maintain the optimal temperature for sperm production, around 2–8 degrees Celsius below body temperature. If you live in a cold climate where exposure to cold water can lead to hypothermia, cold showers aren’t suggested. If you have depression or a mental health condition, don’t replace your medication with cold water therapy. Some research suggests that cold water exposure might have a small, but still unclear, effect on your immune system. This was especially the case when done back-to-back with hot water exposure, or done for at least 10 to 15 minutes in water at temperatures from 52 to 59°F (11 to 15°C).
During repeated sauna exposure, a strong relationship was also noted between body mass loss, body surface area and heart rate response in healthy adult males (Boraczyński et al., 2018). Each sauna session was followed by a 6-min cool-down break during which the participants were immersed in cold water (10−11°C) for 1 min. One study found that "average ejaculation frequency was significantly positively correlated to the motility of the sperm." So, at least to a certain level, frequent ejaculation could actually help with infertility. Several studies have found that both sperm quantity and quality suffer when a man is exposed to stressful events. The aforementioned Tokuyama study found that applying heat to the testicles once every three weeks was enough to keep sperm counts depressed (once every four weeks was not often enough).
The hormone-receptor complex then binds to DNA and activates the genes responsible for the production of specific proteins and enzymes (Jaskólski & Jaskólska, 2006). The group of hormones that regulate physiological processes during thermal stress involves steroid hormones that are fat-soluble and can easily cross cell membranes. Kosunen et al. (1976) and Lammintausta et al. (1976) observed an increase in the plasma concentrations of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone during a single sauna session. The production of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and aldosterone is intensified to normalize blood pressure (Hannuksela & Ellahham, 2001; Kauppinen, 1989). Some of these changes resemble the processes that occur in response to other stressors, whereas other changes are typical of sauna-induced stress (Kukkonen-Harjula & Kauppinen, 1988). In the cited study, sauna bathing significantly contributed to the psychological and physical well-being of the vast majority of the participants, leaving them refreshed and relaxed. Emerging evidence suggests that sauna bathing delivers numerous health benefits by lowering the risk of vascular diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and neurocognitive diseases, as well as nonvascular conditions, including pulmonary diseases such as the common flu.
Remarkably, even after two years, his testosterone levels have remained consistently over 1000 ng/dL. It challenges the conventional narrative and opens up new avenues for non-pharmaceutical testosterone therapies, especially for menopausal women who often experience a drop in testosterone levels. Given that testosterone plays a pivotal role in various aspects of women’s health, from muscle development to libido, the findings of this study are of paramount importance.
As the Men’s Health article aptly puts it, using cold exposure as a strategy for muscle growth is not just an excellent idea; it’s backed by science (Men’s Health, 2019). This discovery suggests that the body’s reaction to cold isn’t just about conserving heat or enhancing recovery. Instead of the immediate spike one might expect post-exercise, the testosterone increase was reduced and postponed. In sports science and recovery, cold-water immersion has become a popular method for post-exercise recovery. Sakamoto’s study underscores the complexity of the body’s hormonal response to external stimuli.

Gender: Female

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