is the fall equinox the sexiest time of year?
Let cuffing season commence.
Few traditions are as shocking to the system as the shift from summer to fall. One moment you're reveling atop rooftop bars without a care in the world, the next you're at the mercy of your space heater. Understandably, swapping linen and spritzes for flannel and toddy may bring sorrow to some, but anyone worrying that the changing seasons might sound the death knell for their love lives can rest easy: on the contrary, the falling leaves may just usher in your sexiest era yet. Naturally, it all starts with the equinox.
Reproductively speaking, our systems respond to certain environmental & sociological cues, meaning that anything from your work schedule to the temperature outside could affect your sexual rhythm. Chief among these signals is sunlight: too little of it will render your libido nonexistent, but too much of it— as is common during a hot summer day—similarly exhausts the body. Consequently, the equinox becomes the great mediator of sex drives, and of course, fertility; according to psychologist Nigel Barker (himself referencing a 1990 study observing the annual rhythm of human reproduction), equinoxes are considered prime conditions for procreating, as sperm counts begin to peak around this time. In other words, it's the start of mating season.
While we may not have the total urge to hunker down and breed as say, moose and deer, our fluctuating hormones do indeed suggest a bias towards autumn. A 2003 study examining male testosterone levels across seasons found that total testosterone peaked in October and November, with up to a 31% difference between the highest and lowest average months (June); a similar study performed eight years later noted testosterone's autumnal peak across the gender spectrum. Of course, testosterone and horniness go hand in hand, which could explain why thoughts of cable-knit sweaters and under-the-blanket behavior stick to us like magnets.
Sure, the weather outside might soon take a dip, but that doesn't mean your sex life has to follow. After all, more time in the bedroom (or your preferred indoor venue) means ample opportunity to make the most out of the season.
