Sleeping is a vital part of your daily life, but have you wondered how much power it possesses? Neglecting sleep at night does not seem like a dealbreaker, and many of us do it intentionally or unintentionally. Accessible internet and social media platforms are the biggest enemies of our sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause a lot of troubles including erectile dysfunction (ED). Let us dive deeper into the topic.
Sleep Deprivation
Regular sleep for 6-8 hours is generally recommended for all adults. Most studies suggest that approximately 7 hours of sleep is sufficient to reboot your system and get you freshened up for the next day. However, there are no problematic and snappy rules, and the exact requirement for sleep may vary. Sleep is essential for your well-being and its deficiency can cause body irregularities including:
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Poor memory
- Poor concentration
- Mood swings
- Sluggishness
- Anxiety
While missing out on sleep might not have permanent symptoms deprivation for a longer period can weaken your immune system. It can also compromise your cardiovascular health and increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and cardiac disorders.
Sleep and Erectile dysfunction
Regular sleep is essential to maintain a healthy sexual life. Some sleep disorders could also affect your sexual abilities and might be the reason behind erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or maintain an erection. It could happen due to various reasons including obesity, chronic disorders, cardiac disorders, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, to name a few.
Sleep deprivation can affect sexual life and create upheaval. Lack of sleep suppresses the production of sex hormones testosterone and estrogen and instead, increases the production of stress hormones. High-stress level further adds to the mess. Hormonal imbalance could also happen due to inadequate sleep, and the hormone is restored in the sleep. Sleepless nights will result in increased tiredness, poor concentration, and irritability.
If your work stress is daunting to you, it is better to address the real cause. You should treat your work as a part of life and not life and make certain adjustments to have a better relationship with work. It could be due to the nature of your job that requires night shifts. It is natural to throw off your circadian rhythm and disturb the sleep cycle. It will also affect the time you spend with your partner as you may sleep when they are awake and vice versa.
If the world of social media platforms and unstoppable scrolling is keeping you from sleeping early, now is the time to get a hold of it and mend your ways. You might feel not sleeping with your partner early is not a big deal, but it can have stronger repercussions.
A partner who does not sleep on time will resort to other activities like watching television or snacking till they feels tired enough to hit the bed. One may also think of buying a larger bed to accommodate different sleeping times and positions so that the other partner is undisturbed. Others may start sleeping apart altogether further destroying the relationship. It will create conflict between the partners and create a gap. You may feel dissatisfied with the relationship and feel your partner is maintaining a distance. Sleeping together is a vital part of a couple’s life and deepens the bond between the partners. The cuddles and the time spent together in bed maintain the love and proximity required for a healthy relationship.
A partner who will not sleep properly at night is prone to be more aggressive or non-accommodating during the day. Poor sleep could, therefore not only change the behavior but exhibit physical symptoms. Sleep affects sex life in various ways and you should get it diagnosed to get the appropriate treatment done.
Poor sleeping patterns can also affect the libido in men. There are scientific studies that can prove the relationship between sleep and lack of sexual desire. Inadequate sleep can also affect the production of sperm which could be the reason for infertility. Low sperm count and low levels of testosterone could cause infertility but it is crucial to know that these factors could be the result of sleepless nights. Knowing the hidden causes will help you treat the condition better and help you lead a healthy sex life.
Sleep Disorders and Erectile Dysfunction
Disorders like sleep apnea can also negatively affect your sex life. It happens due to low levels of oxygen while sleeping and can cause symptoms like:
- Snoring
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth when awake
- Sore throat
- Getting up frequently in the middle of the night
- Sleepiness during daytime
- Frequent urination at night
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sweating at night
The disorder could happen due to any obstruction in breathing via the nose or throat and needs treatment. It could also happen due to obesity which can be controlled. Sleep apnea may go undiagnosed and could only be misdiagnosed as insomnia. If you find your partner snoring or having the above-said symptoms, kindly do not ignore them and see a specialist.
The highest level of testosterone is produced during the REM cycle of sleep. Interrupted sleep can affect testosterone levels which could cause of erectile dysfunction. Therefore, erectile dysfunction could occur due to low levels of testosterone which could further be the result of sleep deprivation.
Diagnosis
Sleep deprivation and erectile dysfunction are two different disorders with different treatment protocols. You will need an expert to find the relation between the two and make an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor may order a sleep assessment and other tests to confirm the sleep disorder. Erectile dysfunction could also be diagnosed with the help of physical and psychological assessment. There are multiple reasons for erectile dysfunction and only a good sexologist’s expertise can help you figure out the exact cause from the pile of health conditions.
Treatment
The treatment would depend on the diagnosis as only targeting the erectile dysfunction will not alleviate the symptoms. If a sleep disorder remains undiagnosed, it could further complicate the situation and produce symptoms like:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiac disorder
- Heart enlargement
- Diabetes
- Heart attack
The diagnosis is of utmost importance and would push you toward the right treatment. The treatment for sleep apnea includes a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. It includes a hose and mask that provides continuous and steady air pressure that helps you sleep better. Although a CPAP machine does not necessarily treat erectile dysfunction, it would help you sleep at night. The availability of a proper night’s sleep can help you feel fresh the next day and can slowly improve testosterone levels. If there is any structural anomaly that causes the disruption in sleep, your doctor can suggest a suitable treatment for the same. The ultimate treatment lies in getting the exact cause and treating them accordingly.
Sleep Hygiene
There are a few basic rules for maintaining proper sleep hygiene. Maintaining the schedule and the quality of sleep is essential to keep you energized on a daily basis.
Maintaining a sleeping schedule is the first step to finding a balance. Pre-decide your time to sleep and wake up every day. Even if you do not feel like sleeping on the time decided, stick to the timings and still go to the end at the same time. It will enforce the habit and slowly transform it into a habit.
Curate a relaxing bedtime routine. Go for a warm bath to set the mood for sleep. Pick a relaxing read for the night to feel cozy and ready to sleep. Avoid any stressful conversation before sleep time and switch off the TV after dinner. Keep the bedroom clean and quiet to aid in sleeping faster without any disturbances. Choose to keep your bedroom dark, and if you cannot control the noise outside use earplugs at night. Do everything you can to get an uninterrupted sleep at night.
Other Treatment Options
Erectile dysfunction is treated by a sexologist with the help of pills, injections, vacuum pumps, and shockwave therapy. The choice of ED treatment depends on your diagnosis and other health conditions. Getting treatment for sleep deprivation can also help control the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Obesity is the common cause of both conditions, hence rectifying it could also help get better. Incorporate healthy eating habits and understand the basics of nutrition. Take the help of a nutritionist if required to understand the nutrient-dense food options and make smarter choices. Include physical activity in your life as per your choice and convenience. Maintaining an ideal weight will help you attain good health that will curb the chance of falling prey to other health conditions like diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure, etc. Therefore, modify your lifestyle to be fitter and lead a healthier sex life.
Bottom Line
Sleep can affect sex life in multiple ways. It is high time to understand the role of sleep and give it its due attention. Maintain a proper sleeping routine and take the help of a doctor if you cannot get yourself to sleep on time. Lack of sleep can mess up your sex life and cause sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction. Get a timely sex doctor online consultation treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sleep deprivation genuinely lead to erectile dysfunction?
Certainly, sleep deprivation can contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED). It has a significant impact on various aspects of physical and mental health, including sexual function.
How does sleep deprivation influence sexual health?
Sleep deprivation can disrupt the delicate balance of hormones, leading to a reduction in testosterone levels. This hormonal disruption can result in increased stress and anxiety, all of which are factors that can contribute to ED.
What is the connection between testosterone and sleep?
Testosterone, a hormone essential for proper sexual function, is predominantly produced during the deep stages of sleep. Sleep deprivation can adversely affect testosterone production, subsequently impacting sexual performance.
Do certain sleep disorders elevate the risk of ED?
Indeed, conditions such as sleep apnea, which disrupts normal sleep patterns, are linked to a heightened risk of both sleep deprivation and ED.
How much sleep is required to promote sexual health?
While individual sleep requirements can vary, it is generally recommended that adults aim for 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep per night to maintain overall health, including sexual function.