Spring Fever 101

Come April and May, a strange illness sets in. It’s a phenomenon that poets have documented for centuries. In a flurry of psychological and sexual renewal, millions of men and women of the northern hemisphere experience rapid increases in mood and energy in stark contrast to the lows felt during winter time. But is this so-called spring fever a real biological phenomenon or have the poets simply led us all to believe in fairy tales?

Look no further as AskMen explores the biology behind spring fever.

What is spring fever?

Generally speaking, spring fever refers to an onset of psychological and physiological symptoms associated with the arrival of spring. Its symptoms include a flushed face, increased heart rate, restlessness, daydreaming, and, of course, an increase in sexual appetite.

While “spring fever” is not a definitive diagnostic term, researchers are only beginning to understand how the change in seasons influences our mood.

What causes spring fever?

Although the exact cause of spring fever is still unclear, scientists agree that hormones are probably the driving force behind all this feverish friskiness. (Who would have guessed?) But different stimulants trigger our hormones in different ways, and there are at least three well-known stimulants that come knocking in April.

Cause No. 1 — Light
When seasons change, the retina (the part of the eye connected to the brain) reacts to increases in the amount of daylight. This information is monitored by a tiny region of the brain known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Considered the human biological clock, the SCN controls the secretion of melatonin, the well-known sleep hormone. As light during the spring months increases, the body produces less melatonin, causing a lift in mood, a reduced desire to sleep and an increase in libido.

While this is probably the most accepted cause of spring fever, there are a few simpler explanations as to why spring gets us so sprung.

Cause No. 2 — Exercise
Warm weather increases physical activity. Combine physical activity with healthy rays of sunshine and you’ll see an immediate improvement in mood. Whether it’s because of an increase in endorphins (the “feel-good” hormone), vitamin D, blood flow, or some other biological marker, scientists have long known that exercise is just as good as any antidepressant in lifting our moods. But this doesn’t necessarily explain the gender-specific boost for male sex drives. For that explanation, we need to get real basic.

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Cause No. 3 — The female form
Men and women are different (as we are all well aware), but much of our differences can be traced to the brain. The author of The Male Brain, Dr. Louann Brizendine, explains that a man’s visual brain circuits, whether we men like it or not, are always on the lookout for fertile females. In other words, men almost always look first and think second. So it follows that in the spring, as layers of clothing are shed and more skin and curvy forms become visible, male excitement reaches critical levels. Makes sense, right? So the next time your girlfriend catches you eyeing a fleshy female, just blame biology. (Good luck with that one, guys.)

Spring has sprung
With days getting longer, weather getting warmer and women getting, well, "nakeder," it’s no surprise that spring impacts male mood and excitement. Whether the so-called spring fever is a real biological phenomenon or not, it is clear that at least some of the symptoms have a basis in biology. But in the end, it all essentially boils down to hormones.