We have all heard that sleep is beneficial, but did you know that it even impacts your sex life?
Research has shown that insufficient or disrupted sleep can:
- Reduced sexual desire
- Reduced physical arousal
- Result in a greater risk of erectile dysfunction
- Increase the likelihood of conflict with a partner
- Heighten stress, which can result in reduced intimacy
In particular, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which involves recurring pauses in breathing that disrupt sleep, is strongly associated with risk of sexual dysfunction. A 2009 study found that 69 percent of male participants diagnosed also had erectile dysfunction (1).
Main message: prioritise your sleep to keep your sex life satisfying! If you have sleeping difficulties, seek help from a professional. Your pleasure is worth it!
References:
Budweiser S, Enderlein S, Jörres RA, Hitzl AP, Wieland WF, Pfeifer M, Arzt M. Sleep apnea is an independent correlate of erectile and sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med. 2009 Nov;6(11):3147-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01372.x. Epub 2009 Jun 29. PMID: 19570042.
