Looking for a little Sexual Healing in the boudoir? The prescription may be as simple as a great night’s sleep (recommended 7 – 9 hours per night).
The experts at Luxi Sleep support there are numerous negative effects that sleep deprivation can have on nearly all aspects of your life, including your libido. From your hormone levels, immune system function to your general sense of emotional well-being.
Being too tired is the most common reason people are sighting for not having sex with their partner. A survey three years ago showed that it had overtaken headaches as the most popular “excuse”.
So can more and better sleep help if you’ve lost that “lovin feeling?” It sure can, here is why:
1. Hormone Levels
During sleep your body repairs itself, the immune system is restored, and most importantly, hormones are balanced. When this process is cut short your body doesn’t have enough time to complete these essential processes.
“Chronic Sleep Deprivation” can occur even if you get six hours of sleep a night which can lower levels of testosterone (the sex drive hormone) in both men and women” according to Dr. Robert D. Oexman, Director of the Sleep to Live Institute.
A 2011 one week study in The Journal of American Medical Association found sleep deprived men had a testosterone dip of 15% which is the amount lost with 10 to 15 years of aging (especially those with sleep apnea). Similarly, there was a decrease in women as well but more difficult to measure, however, both led to decreases in sex drive.
2. Physical Side-Effects
There are some physical impacts which a lack of zzz’s can have on your mojo. According to National Health Services, “Chronic sleep debt can lead to long-term mood disorders like depression and anxiety.” As well as, “Limit or eliminate the pleasure normally drawn from sex.”
What make this a double-whammy is a side-effect of depression is insomnia! Depression has been known to greatly reduce sex drive as have the anti-depressants used to treat the condition. Making depression a lose-lose for your sex life.
Lack of sleep can also negatively affect vagina lubrication and erectile dysfunction, especially in those with sleep apnea.
3. Sexual Desire
Being “in the mood” has been directly correlated to sleep. We have all been too tired to even dream about sex, in fact, the Sleep Foundation cited, 20% of respondents “have sex less frequently or have lost interest in sex because they said they are just too sleepy.”
An interesting side effect of being tired is the dramatic effect on the brain, particularly the frontal lobe which influences risk-taking and decision-making. A 2013 study published in SLEEP found that just one sleep deprived night causes men to think women wanted sex with them when they sooo did not (nearly ever man I have ever dated must have been sleep deprived).
But good news, just 60 minutes can increase your odds of “getting some”; The Journal of Sexual Medicine found, a “one hour increase in sleep duration causes a 14% increase in desire for partnered sexual activity.”
4. Emotional
You didn’t get a good night’s sleep, chances are you are moody and grumpy. Probably not your sexiest self, who are we kidding?
Consistently poor sleep “can make us more selfish as we prioritize our own needs over our partner’s” according to a study by the University of California, Berkley. It also goes on to explain we have lower expressions of gratitude which may ultimately put a strain on your relationships translating to an impact in the bedroom.
For such a natural activity sex can feel complicated, but after a good night’s sleep it might not.
Why don’t you “sleep on it,” odds are you’ll feel frisky tomorrow.
Xo Good night