Testosterone does NOT make you sex-mad – but will still boost your love life
MANLY men are more romantic but not necessarily randier, science suggests. A study found that higher levels of the male hormone testosterone were linked to…
MANLY men are more romantic but not necessarily randier, science suggests.
A study found that higher levels of the male hormone testosterone were linked to greater “courtship effort”.
Alamy
Higher testosterone could make men more prone to romantic gestures (stock image)[/caption]
The hormone gives blokes deep voices, big muscles and hairy chests, and is typically linked to hot-blooded desire.
But researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, did not find a direct link to sex drive.
Instead, they saw single men with greater levels put more effort into trying to woo potential partners.
Testosterone was higher overall in single fellas than coupled ones, suggesting it motivates them to settle down and then hormone levels decrease.
Upturns common belief
Study author Dr James Roney said: “Despite a common belief that testosterone regulates fluctuations in sexual desire, there is little direct evidence.
“It may instead motivate mating effort through other means, such as by promoting courtship effort.
“We produced evidence that testosterone fluctuations in the normal range may predict changes in mate attraction efforts among single men, especially given social interactions with potential mates.”
It could motivate romancers to crack jokes, pay compliments or buy flowers.
The study, in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, included 41 men aged between 18 and 26.
They took daily saliva samples and answered questions about their sex drive and flirting efforts for a month.
Testosterone boost helps find a partner
Dr Roney added: “These results essentially suggest that elevated testosterone functions to promote mate competition efforts in single men.
“Relationship entry as a result of these efforts may in turn lead to lower testosterone production with a shift in effort away from courtship.”
All the men in the study had variations of healthy levels of testosterone, and abnormally low amounts are known to impact sex drive.
Sex and your body
Everything you need to know about sex and your body
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/aerial-view-of-colourful-mexican-city.jpg?id=54019556&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=218%2C0%2C219%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you're planning a getaway to Mexico this winter, you might want to check the latest <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/travel-advisory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel advisory</a> update from the Government of Canada, especially if destinations along the Gulf of California are on your list.</p><p>The <a href="https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mexico travel advisory</a>, updated on Monday, cautions Canadians about violent clashes happening in Culiacán, Mazatlán and surrounding areas. According to the Government of Canada, there have been "ongoing violent clashes between rival armed groups" in these locations, with reports of gunfire and vehicles being stopped on major highways.</p><blockquote class="rm-embed twitter-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1851011109270004001">
<div style="margin:1em 0"></div> — (@) <a href="https://twitter.com/TravelGoC/status/1851011109270004001"></a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><p>Local authorities are recommending that anyone already in these areas shelter in place, while the Canadian government is urging travellers to "exercise extreme caution" and "limit your movements" to avoid any potential dangers. Staying informed by monitoring local media and following instructions from local authorities are also advised.</p><p>For travellers with plans to visit Mexico soon, the Canadian government is now recommending avoiding all non-essential travel to the following Mexican states due to "high levels of violence and organized crime":</p><ul><li><strong>Chiapas</strong>, excluding the cities of Palenque via Highway 186 from Villahermosa, San Cristobal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutiérrez</li><li><strong>Chihuahua</strong>, excluding Chihuahua City</li><li><strong>Colima</strong>, excluding the city of Manzanillo if accessed by air</li><li><strong>Guanajuato</strong></li><li><strong>Guerrero</strong>, excluding the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo if accessed by air</li><li><strong>Jalisco</strong>, within 50 km of the border with Michoacán state</li><li>the <strong>Lagunas de Zempoala National Park</strong> in Morelos</li><li><strong>Michoacán</strong>, excluding the cities of Morelia and Patzcuaro</li><li><strong>Nayarit</strong>, within 20 km of the border with the states of Sinaloa and Durango</li><li><strong>Nuevo León</strong>, excluding the city of Monterrey</li><li><strong>Sinaloa</strong>, excluding the city of Los Mochis</li><li><strong>Sonora</strong>, excluding the cities of Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco</li><li><strong>Tamaulipas</strong>, excluding the city of Tampico</li><li><strong>Zacatecas</strong>, excluding Zacatecas City</li></ul><p><span></span>If you're heading elsewhere in Mexico, it's worth noting that the federal advisory continues to recommend exercising a high degree of caution across the country due to high levels of criminal activity, including violent crime and kidnapping risks. </p><p>Additionally, the Government of Canada issued a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-travel-advisories-dengue-fever-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel advisory for Mexico and 45 other countries</a> earlier this month due to a rise in dengue fever cases. Dengue, a mosquito-borne illness, can cause severe flu-like symptoms and can be fatal in some cases. While there's no vaccine available in Canada, the government says you can reduce your risk by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and sleeping under mosquito nets if necessary.</p><p>The advisory also mentions that while many tourist areas may have a stronger security presence, crime incidents can still happen, so being extra vigilant is key. The government advises Canadians to stick to tourist areas, avoid showing signs of affluence and refrain from travelling at night for a safer experience.</p><h3>Is it safe to travel to Mexico?</h3><br/><p>According to the Government of Canada, as of October 28, 2024, travel to Mexico requires a <strong>high degree of caution</strong> due to elevated levels of criminal activity and violence in various regions. Although some popular tourist spots may have a stronger security presence, travellers should remain alert, especially in regions where violent crime is more prevalent. </p><p>The advisory specifically highlights recent clashes between armed groups in Culiacán and Mazatlán, urging travellers to <strong>avoid non-essential travel</strong> to these areas and several other states.</p><p>If Mexico is in your travel plans, keeping an eye on the latest updates and staying informed could help ensure a safer trip.</p><p><em>Before you get going, check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/responsible-travel-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Responsible Travel Guide</a> so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.</em></p><p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em></p><p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em></p>