If Your Partner Likes The Shower Wayyy Hotter, You’re Not Alone — And Some Simple Biology Might Explain It
Showering together, some may say, is the epitome of romance, connection, and closeness.
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And it saves water! (Maybe debatable, but it has a nice ring to it.)
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The idea is nice, then comes reality, which, for some, means discovering that your partner’s preferred shower temperature is absolutely heinous, 100% intolerable.
For many opposite-sex couples, that means a man who prefers cooler shower temps, and a woman who loves it super hot.
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Obviously, that doesn’t really mesh.
It turns out there are some basic biological differences between men and women that could explain women’s preference for a scalding hot shower. Dr. Sermed Mezher, a London-based locum general practitioner and content creator, broke it down in a video recently.
It all started with a TikTok by creator couple @micahandsarah, who say they can’t shower together because Sarah likes to crank it wayyy up.
Dr. Mezher stitched that video with a few potential scientific explanations, and according to the comments, it seems that Micah and Sarah are FAR from alone on this.
So without further ado, here are the four biological differences Dr. Mezher says might have something to do with this shower temperature phenomenon:
1. People who menstruate have a higher core body temperature.
Sermed Mezher / Via instagram.com
Dr. Mezher says this “helps to keep those inner organs toasty,” but can also lead to heightened sensitivity to cold at different times during the menstrual cycle, like ovulation and the last days of the cycle.
2. Female body composition generally includes a higher percentage of body fat.
Sermed Mezher / Via instagram.com
By comparison, male body composition usually includes more skeletal muscle, which helps generate heat that rises to the skin through thermogenesis.
3. Women are five times more likely to experience Raynaud’s phenomenon.
Sermed Mezher / Via instagram.com, Petra Richli / Getty Images
Raynaud’s can cause blood vessels in the hands and feet to spasm, constricting blood flow and circulation.
So there you have it. May all your showers be perfectly heated, and don’t you dare apologize for wanting it juuuust right.
Do you and your opposite-sex partner have any wildly different preferences (shower temperature or otherwise)? Please, I’m begging you, entertain me with those stories in the comments.
