The heatwaves hitting the UK are also drying up Brits' love lives, as the record-breaking heat could be messing with men's fertility levels and diminishing their sex drives. Lads struggling to sleep in the heat could face low libido, erectile difficulties, and plummeting testosterone levels.
Sleep and testosterone
Chester Maglo, Sleep Performance Coach at MattressOnline, warned that lack of sleep could be killing men's bedroom performances. He said: "Testosterone is a hormone that drives libido, energy, mood, muscle mass and strength. Research has found that restricting healthy young men to five hours in bed for one week reduced their daytime testosterone by 10–15%. With three in four (74%) of UK workers reporting poor sleep quality, and the average adult sleeps around 6.4 hours a night, it's worth considering the correlation."
"Poor sleep and low testosterone can feed into each other, creating a cycle that's difficult to break," he added.
Heat and sperm health
The hot weather could also affect men's fertility, as testes need cooler temperatures for sperm production. Doctor Sophie Dix, Head of Medical Affairs at MedExpress, explained: "In humans, the testicles normally stay around 2–4°C cooler than your core body temperature. This cooler environment is important for normal sperm production. While that may sound complicated, maintaining this temperature doesn't require anything drastic."
She added: "For men actively trying to conceive this summer, making simple lifestyle changes during hot weather could play an important role in supporting sperm production and reproductive health. With prolonged heatwaves becoming more common in the UK, it's important men understand how extreme temperatures may affect reproductive health. Small, practical changes during hot weather could help reduce heat exposure and support sperm health, particularly for those planning to start a family."
Five fertility tips
Doctor Dix issued five tips for protecting sperm health in hot weather:
- Go commando at night: Ditching underwear can improve airflow to the testicles overnight and keep them cooler.
- Switch fabrics: Wearing loose, breathable fabrics like cotton or linen and avoiding tight trousers like jeans can help maintain a cooler environment.
- Take regular breaks from sitting: Long periods of sitting, such as at a desk or driving, can trap heat around the groin area.
- Avoid very hot baths: Baths are fine as long as the temperature is lukewarm rather than hot.
- Keep laptops off laps: Laptops generate heat, so using them directly on your lap for extended periods may increase heat exposure around the testicles. Use a desk surface or place a cushion between your lap and laptop.
