Yes, we all know the effect cold has on the size of male genitals... But what many don’t know is that this effect is temporary and, in reality, cold exposure can improve sexual function, increase desire, and strengthen emotional bonds.

Cold exposure has a direct impact on the release of various hormones. Among them are those we commonly know as the hormones of love and sex.

The Neurochemistry of Love and Sex

Positive feelings are characterized by neurochemical signatures: feelings change brain chemistry, and brain chemistry changes feelings.

When we feel pleasure, attraction, or fall in love, our brain releases a series of neurochemicals and hormones that shape our sensations. These are the main ones.

Oxytocin

Globally recognized as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is released during moments of pleasurable physical contact, such as a hug or a kiss. During sexual intercourse, oxytocin is released and acts on systems related to positive reinforcement—that is, pleasure—increasing complicity, affection, attachment, and trust with a partner.

Testosterone

Although commonly associated with men, it is also the dominant sexual hormone in women.

In men, testosterone has a wide variety of functions: it plays a key role in erection, as it stimulates penile tissues to produce nitric oxide, which triggers several reactions that cause an erection. If a man has low testosterone levels, for example, he may experience erectile dysfunction.

In addition, in both men and women, this hormone gives a boost to sexual desire.

Dopamine and Norepinephrine

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in a multitude of brain and physiological functions. One of them is pleasure: it is responsible for making you feel pleasure when you engage in an activity you enjoy.

Not only pleasure, but it also makes us feel euphoria, for example, when being with the person we love. It has a powerful reward system, which is why it creates the “need” to be with that person. Interestingly, it is the same neurotransmitter that is activated by gambling and drugs.

On the other hand, norepinephrine increases alertness, excitement, and attention. It gives us a boost of adrenaline and makes the heart beat faster. As if that weren’t enough, it is what fuels that emotional roller coaster we feel when we fall in love.

Both dopamine and norepinephrine increase romantic attraction.

How Does Cold-Plunging Affect Sexuality?

Cold doesn’t just awaken your senses: it activates complex biological systems that improve your mental health, your mood, and also your sex life.

During an ice bath session, the body enters a physiological alert state known as fight-or-flight. As part of this response, neurotransmitters and hormones are released that generate well-being, energy, and arousal.

Returning to sex, just a few minutes of cold-plunging will stimulate the production of all these hormones and neurotransmitters, creating multidimensional feelings of love and desire.

• Cold → increase in testosterone → increase in libido and sexual function in both men and women.

• Cold → increase in dopamine and norepinephrine → feelings of euphoria, desire, and intense pleasure.

• Cold → release of oxytocin → increased bonding and protective feelings.

Cold Therapy and Erectile Dysfunction: Can It Help?

Male arousal is a complex process involving the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is commonly associated with age since it appears more frequently after 40. However, it can happen at any age and at any time: stress, anxiety, and depression affect libido and sexual performance.

Thomas P. Seager, PhD, considers erectile dysfunction to be a mitochondrial disorder. The mitochondria in endothelial cells (which line the blood vessels of the penis) are essential for the production of nitric oxide, which allows the vasodilation necessary for an erection. Without nitric oxide, there is no blood flow to the penis and no erection.

“Cold thermogenesis leads to increased production of nitric oxide, also known as natural Viagra for your body” (Ben Greenfield, 2020)

A potential solution to this issue may be found in cold-plunges:

• Boosts mitochondrial generation.

• Improves mitochondrial function.

• Stimulates nitric oxide production.

• Enhances blood circulation.

• Reduces stress (a key factor in many cases of ED).

In addition, activating brown fat through cold therapy improves metabolic health and mitochondrial efficiency, further supporting sexual performance.

The Love Protocol: A Ritual for Couples

Seager proposes a practice for couples who want to strengthen their emotional and sexual bond through cold-plunging:

1. Hold hands. Touching during immersion increases the sense of connection and communication between you.
2. Synchronize your breathing. Considering that the heart is seen as the bodily place of love, maintaining a steady heartbeat during immersion as a couple may be a good way to stabilize and strengthen a relationship.
3. Look into each other’s eyes. At first it may be difficult and you may laugh, but it creates intimacy, trust, and increases attraction.
4. Warm up together afterward. Reheating with exercise after an ice bath is essential to increase testosterone levels and libido.

If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to explore our blog, where you’ll find many more pieces about the vast world of cryotherapy and how it connects with numerous aspects of our lives. And if you’d like to take it a step further, discover our cryotherapy tubs here.

(*) Alfa Humans is designed to support a healthy lifestyle, not to diagnose, cure, or prevent diseases or specific medical conditions. Our tubs are not medical devices. Consult your physician before beginning any deliberate cold exposure practice.