As shocking as it may sound, Americans are indulging less in the all-time favorite pastime– sex.
Despite the acceptance of what was once considered taboos and the wide availability of hookup apps, people simply are not having as much sex.
Something else that Americans are not getting enough of is sleep. 35% of Americans say their sleep quality is poor.
I’m not saying that one trend is sorely responsible for the other, but research has shown there is a link between the number of sex people have and sleep quality.
It also works the other way round. Improving your sleep habits improves your sex life.
How Sex Affects Sleep
Researchers don’t think the effect of sex on sleep quality is direct. Having sex won’t make you produce more sleep hormones.
Instead, they theorize that when you have sex, the rush of hormones results in feelings of satisfaction, happiness, and relaxation.
These feelings reduce stress and help you sleep better. In insomniacs, sex can help you fall asleep faster.
Sex has a greater positive impact on sleep if you climax. Orgasm increases the number of hormones produced and boosts feelings of relief and relaxation.
Another theory is that sex increases levels of estrogen in women. Estrogen can improve REM sleep, resulting in better sleep quality overall.
Estrogen therapy has been used to improve sleep patterns in menopausal women.
So while there is still more research needed to understand clearly how sex affects sleep, we have enough evidence to know that it has a positive impact definitively.
When combined with other interventions, sex can help you sleep faster, sleep better, and wake up feeling rested and refreshed.
How Sleep Affects Sex
The link between sex and sleep also works the other way round; your sleep quality affects the amount and quality of your sexual interactions.
When you’ve slept well, and you feel rested, you are likely to have fun and satisfactory sex. But if both or one of you is sleep deprived, you probably won’t even be in the mood to get things started.
One study found that men with poor sleep patterns have reduced levels of testosterone.
This could lead to lower libido and reduced sex quality.
Low levels of testosterone can also lead to reduced muscle mass, low energy levels, and fatigue, all of which have an impact on sex.
In both men and women, sleep deprivation leads to moodiness and grumpiness. These feelings usually peak in the evening, typically when most couples have sex.
You aren’t going to have sex if one or both of you are feeling grumpy, anxious, or irritable.
Interestingly, researchers have found that sleep deprivation can increase spontaneous sexual arousal in men and women.
However, that doesn’t mean you’ll have more sex.
Arousal caused by sleep deprivation doesn’t necessarily lead to a desire for sex or increased frequency of sexual interactions.
So don’t try to sleep less to improve your sex life.
You have a better chance of doing the opposite.
How to Sleep Better (to Improve your Sex Life)
- Stick to a predictable sleep routine. Sleep at a specific time every day and wake up at the same time. Try not to deviate from this schedule even on weekends. If you do, it will mess up your sleep routine for the rest of the week.
- Get enough sleep. Find your optimal sleep duration (it ranges between 6 and 8 hours for most people), and make sure you sleep for that amount of time every day.
- Make sure your sleep environment is sleep-friendly. Sleep on a comfortable mattress, lower the temperatures by a few degrees, keep it dark, and get rid of disruptive noises or cover them with sleep sounds.
- Use various techniques to reduce anxiety and stress. Try yoga, a warm bath before bed, aromatherapy, or whatever works for you.
- Workout regularly. Multiple studies have shown that regular exercise increases sleep quality and reduce insomnia.
Another tip that will help you have better sex and sleep better is investing in the right mattress.
For couples who want to make sex more fun, I recommend a responsive (bouncy) mattress that has good support and cooling.
Latex and hybrid pocket coil mattresses are usually the best for sex.
To find the right mattress for your needs, read our buying guide to the best mattresses for having sex on.
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