Does Sleeping Naked Increase Testosterone Levels?

Going to bed should really be one of the simplest things you can do. You learn how to sleep as a baby, and, barring the occasional bout of insomnia, remember how to do it for the rest of your life. However, in the age of a thousand different night creams, unending “get unready with me” and “my ideal night routine” videos, going to bed has suddenly become complicated.

At Hormones + You, we don’t want to add another voice to the chaos, but we do want to make sure you’re getting the best rest you can, which is why we’ve put together this article to answer the question, do you really need those new pyjamas, and does sleeping naked increase your testosterone? 

What is testosterone (and do women have it)? 

When it comes to hormones, girls have oestrogen, and boys have testosterone, right? Wrong!

Men and women actually have all the same hormones, just in differing amounts. Keeping your testosterone levels balanced as a woman is just as important as keeping your oestrogen levels in check. 

For women, testosterone plays an important role in: 

• Bone density and overall bone health. 

• Breast health. 

• Your reproductive system and overall fertility. 

• Your cycle and menstrual health. 

• Muscle density. 

• Libido. 

• Vaginal health. 

What does sleep have to do with it? Does sleeping naked increase your testosterone levels? 

In general, sleeping naked is pretty good for your overall health. Skin-to-skin contact isn’t just for babies. In adults, it increases the production of oxytocin, AKA the love hormone (which can also have some potentially fun side effects, depending on who you’re sharing a bed with). 

Too Hot To Handle: 

Firstly, sleeping naked helps you regulate body temperature whilst you’re unconscious. As part of your natural circadian rhythm, your body starts cooling itself down in the evening, in preparation for sleep. Sleeping naked can not only help you fall asleep faster (as you’re not being heated up by lots of layers), but it might help you stay asleep throughout the night, because you’re not being artificially heated. Temperature also significantly impacts the quality of your sleep - too hot (or too cold), and you risk not achieving REM sleep, which is the deep sleep that works to refresh your brain and body. 

The Land Down Under: 

Sleeping naked is also great for your vaginal health. Take it from us - vaginas are complicated. The wrong soap, some pants that are just a little too tight, a particularly sweaty gym session… There’s all sorts of things that can go wrong. 

To make matters worse, fashion trends at the minute also involve a lot of synthetic, non-breathable fabrics, as well as tight, closefitting styles. Your style might be the talk of the town (or the TikTok comment section), but don’t sacrifice your pH balance for it. Sleeping naked is an easy way to increase airflow, and keep everything healthy. 

Can I Snooze Through My Gym Alarm? 

We’ll leave it up to you to decide, but did you know that the quality of your sleep can also indirectly impact your weight and physical health? One study followed over 21,000 people for three years, and found a potential link between inadequate sleep and weight gain. Linked to a lower body temperature, sleeping at a cooler temperature encourages your body to produce more ‘brown fat’. Brown fat boosts your metabolism by burning blood sugar and stored white fat in order to keep you warm. High levels of brown fat can reduce your risk of conditions like obesity and diabetes. 

What About My Testosterone?

And of course, the big question. Does sleeping naked increase your testosterone levels? Research suggests that it does. A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that after a week of sleeping only five hours a night, participants' testosterone levels dropped by 10-15%. And based on what we’ve told you, it’s clear that sleeping naked improves your quality of sleep. 

Will Sleeping Naked Solve All Of My Problems? 

While ditching the pyjamas is a good step to take, it’s not necessarily the cure to all ills. Unfortunately, there are plenty of things that can push your hormones out of whack, and if you’re really struggling, we’d recommend reaching out for help. 

How Else Can Hormones + You Help?

If you’re struggling to sleep at all, you might want to consider a melatonin supplement. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced naturally by your body - at night, melatonin levels rise, and then return to a lower level during the day. This helps regulate your sleep pattern. We offer pharmaceutical-grade, bioidentical melatonin capsules to help you drift off peacefully. 

Alternatively, if you’re a woman struggling with the effects of low testosterone, we can help you out with our testosterone cream, which has been specifically designed for women, along with a personalised dosage routine, and an easy to use, measured dosage pump. 

For some more top tips on quality sleep, take a look at our other blogs. We’ve also got lots of other information across the website, including a guide on the connection between stress and sex drive, and whether or not ADHD can worsen PMS symptoms. Or if you’re struggling with your hormones, you can complete an online consultation and get your personalised dosage posted to you today.