We all know that a lack of sleep can affect many aspects of our day to day lives. Missing out on valuable hours of sleep can really impact your day to day life. But did you know that poor sleep can also impact your sex life?
A study that was published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine last summer digs into the impact of poor sleep, specifically poor sleep caused by sleep disorders, on the sex lives of men and women. As it turns out, poor sleep can have a pretty significant effect on one’s sex life. (1)
The study is a meta-analysis of forty-three articles that examined the relationship between sexual dysfunction and how well you are sleeping. Specifically the study looked at the relationship between sexual dysfunction, the duration of one’s sleep, the quality of one’s sleep and whether or not one experiences a sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea.
Beyond an impact on sexual health and function, poor sleep can affect much more than your experience in the bedroom. A lack of sleep can result in short term consequences like headaches, moodiness, fatigue and more. Long term consequences of a lack of sleep might include depression, anxiety, obesity, stroke, and more. (2)
Read on to find out the ins and outs of how a poor night of sleep can impact your sex life, and what you can do to get better sleep each night.
What Does The Study Say About Sex and Sleep?
The study found that not getting enough sleep at night is associated with a higher chance of sexual dysfunction. More specifically, the study found that the presence of sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea, poor sleep quality, and a short sleep duration all increased the risk of men and women experiencing some form of sexual dysfunction. (1)
Researchers suggest that since “the risk of SD is significantly increased in patients with sleep disorders and poor sleep quality, indicating that clinicians should monitor sleep among patients with SD.” (1)
If you are experiencing regular sexual dysfunction, then you should talk to your doctor about next steps.
How Can I Improve My Sleep To Prevent Sexual Dysfunction?
There are some pretty easy and actionable tips that you can follow to make sure that you’re getting enough quality sleep. One major thing that you can do is to practice good sleep hygiene. According to Sleepopolis, sleep hygiene is a name given to the things that you do before and during the night to take care of your sleep.
Sleep hygiene includes doing things like ditching screens about an hour before bed, keeping a regular sleep schedule, having a calming bedtime routine, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and creating a sleep space that is both dark and quiet.
Sleepopolis’s Dr. Shelby Harris has this to say about sleep hygiene “Our lifestyle and the habits we develop, or create for ourselves, surrounding our sleep schedule set the tone for the quality of sleep we get each night. Everyone is different in terms of what helps them relax and wind down at the end of each day- therefore, it’s important to customize your own sleep hygiene routine in order for it to be effective for you.”
However, if you have sleep apnea or believe that you have sleep apnea then you should consult your doctor before undergoing any treatments or seeking a diagnosis. Additionally, if you are sleeping poorly and wish to try supplements like magnesium or melatonin you should consult your doctor to see if those supplements are right for you.
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Sources
- Dilixiati, Diliyaer, Kadier, Kaisaierjiang, Laihaiti, Duolikun, et al. The relationship between sleep disorders, quality, and duration and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdad054
- What are sleep deprivation and deficiency? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation