Men’s Sweat Turns Women On

Androstadienone, a chemical found in men's sweat, causes sexual arousal, good mood and increased heart rate in women. What are you waiting for? Hit the gym immediately!

Researches at the University of California at Berkeley discovered that a chemical found in men's sweat elevates levels of an important hormone cortisol in heterosexual women. Perhaps that's why women are more inclined to have a fling in the summer months. Evidently, hormones ensure the game of mating. But why does this particular chemical affect women at all?

Androstadienone is a derivative of testosterone, which is also found in saliva and semen. It affects women in a similar way as pheromones, psychologically and physiologically. This male hormone causes higher sexual arousal, good mood and increased heart rate in women.

In the past, scientists established that men’s sweat has a beneficial effect on women’s well-being and ovulation. Researchers therefore tested whether androstadienone may have any effect on cortisol. In the experiment, women had to smell a jar containing androstadienone. Then they measured the level of cortisol in their saliva. It was found that within 15 minutes after smelling the jar the level of cortisol increased and remained high for approximately an hour. As a result, the women’s mood improved and their sexual arousal was higher, just as their blood pressure, heart rate and the rate of breathing.

However, we still have a warning to give you. When you're at work and there appears a stain of sweat in the size of a lake just under your armpit on your nice light blue shirt, you'll definitely not drive us wild. In the next two months, every time we'll see you, we'll think of the unlovely sweat scene.