Sleeping is perhaps one of the most important activities one does in a day. I’m sure we’ve all heard about how getting a good amount of sleep is necessary for the human body as it is necessary for overall good health, as sleep helps in tissue repair, building muscle, and helping consolidate things in your memory. It also helps you feel more energized and less fatigued, which will positively impact your mood and help you improve your emotional connection with your partner.
In order to understand how sleep is important, let's look at how sleep helps the body and sexual function:
Can Lack of Proper Sleep Cause Hormonal/Neurotransmitter Imbalance?
Sleep influences the mechanisms that control the production of important hormones like testosterone, oxytocin, and also contribute to increased levels of cortisol, which leads to the suppression of testosterone in men and also may cause an imbalance of female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Disturbed sleep can impact the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis, which is a structure that is important for both male and female reproductive function. Sleep also impacts the regulation of important hormones like serotonin and dopamine, which are needed for mood regulation and feeling pleasure.
Is Sleep Necessary for Vascular Function?
As arousal and erection are also influenced by blood flow to the genito-pelvic area, if vascular health is impacted, it will have a significant impact on the sexual functioning of an individual. Sleep disturbances have also been associated with hypertension, increased risk of diabetes, and obesity which are in turn associated with impaired nerve function, leading to reduced blood flow. Sleeping well can ensure that you remain at a lowered risk for vascular dysfunction leading to better sexual performance.
Sleep leads to a better mood and more energy
Getting enough sleep can lead to improved mood, and feeling more energetic can have a positive impact on your sexual performance and emotional connection with your partner
How can sleep disorders affect my sexual health?
Sleep disorders refer to problems with sleeping that can make it difficult for you to fall asleep, to remain asleep, and to feel refreshed after sleeping. Let’s look at how sleep disorders can impact sexual functioning:
Obstructive sleep apnea:
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder wherein the muscles of the throat relax and cause a blockage of the airway, making it difficult to breathe. It is characterized by loud snoring. People suffering from OSA do not have restful sleep, and as a result are at a higher risk for heart disease, hypertension, and other vascular dysfunctions, which in turn are implicated in sexual dysfunction due to the role they play in impairing blood flow to the relevant areas.
Insomnia:
This is characterized by the persistent inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, and wake earlier than you want to. Though these symptoms occur occasionally in individuals every now and then, but it is only less than 10% of the population fulfills the criteria for insomnia
Shift work:
this can impact your circadian rhythm, leading to you feeling more tired throughout the day. Irregular sleep can lead to an elevated risk of diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disease, along with an increased risk for depression, and gastrointestinal issues, and also exacerbate sleep complaints.
Circadian rhythm disorder:
This is different from insomnia, in that, the biological processes that are involved in sleep are not impacted, rather, there is a mismatch in the body’s internal clock, and the time at which one might want to attempt sleep or the time one might want to wake up. It is linked to feeling fatigued and tired, which itself can impact sexual function, but it is also linked to cardiovascular disease, vascular dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances, leading to sexual dysfunction
Restless Legs Syndrome:
This is a disorder where an individual may feel an uncontrollable urge to move their legs due to uncomfortable sensations, which are relieved upon movement. This can cause sleep disturbances, which can be linked to impaired sexual function and desire. The irritation and discomfort associated with RLS may also impact libido and sexual performance.
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