The normal core body temperature for both men and women depends on a variety of factors that are influenced by age, activity, and time of day… but generally safely ranges from 97℉ to 99℉. So why is it that women more often feel colder while men run warmer?

Does Gender Affect Thermoregulation?

Thermoregulation is how mammals maintain their body temperatures through internal systems of self-regulation without regard to external temperatures. This kind of Temperature regulation allows human bodies to survive by sustaining a stable internal temperature.

While men and women have generally the same core body temperature, there are many factors that go into how an individual experiences outside temperatures. The body’s metabolic rates play a role by dictating how quickly heat energy is produced.

On average, men tend to have higher muscle mass than women, which leads to a higher metabolic rate. Having more muscle mass means men tend to generate more heat by burning more calories to fuel their additional musculature.

Why Is My Girlfriend Always Cold?

One of the primary female hormones – estrogen – also plays a minor role in women’s ability to regulate temperature. Among other things, it slightly thickens the blood… which reduces the flow to capillaries that supply the body’s extremities. Women have also been shown to feel colder when estrogen levels are higher, such as around ovulation.

Aside from core (or internal) temperature, the way we feel about the temperature comes more from skin (or shell) temperature – which falls and rises with the temperature of the environment. The rate that heat is lost is mostly determined by how rapidly heat transfers from the skin to the surroundings or how quickly heat is transferred from the body core to the skin.

Is Ideal Room Temperature Different for Men and Women?

It’s important to know that “room temperature” is actually a range of temperatures roughly between 68-72℉ahrenheit, and there isn’t one room or one temperature it’s based on. While it sounds simple, room temperature is when a person feels neither hot nor cold while wearing normal indoor clothing.

The air conditioning in most office buildings was actually determined by a several decades old study that only took into account the metabolic rates of men to calculate ideal room temperature for work performance. On average, women prefer the thermostat set several degrees warmer than men. In general, women prefer rooms set at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, while men are generally more comfortable around 71℉ahrenheit.

All in all, the ideal temperature of a room is a matter of personal preference. Some people like it cooler, while others prefer warmer. It’s important to remember that environmental factors (like temperature) can have an effect on your day-to-day lives and ability to focus and work.

Need Help Staying Cool? Call The Tragar Team 

Whether your AC system needs service, or it finally failed and you need an upgrade, Tragar can help you stay cool. Call us to today for all of your HVAC needs because we’re the experts. Contact us today.