Conducting research directly on the ways in which orgasms help people sleep is challenging, and most studies in these contexts are based on self-reported surveys, leading to limited representation. One study that nonetheless examined the specific relationship of orgasm to sleep conducted an online survey of 778 people, most of them heterosexual (more than 90%), in their 20s or 30s. The researchers found that 68% of men and 59% of women felt they slept better after having sex with their partner. About 54% of volunteers said they also slept better after undergoing a masturbation orgasm. However, some men – 11% of women and 4% of men – said they actually had a harder time falling asleep after having sex with a partner.
According to a small study published in 1985 in the journal Biological Psychiatry – orgasms, at least masturbating, did not affect sleep for the better or worse. The researchers conducted polysomenographic recordings measuring brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and respiration, as well as eye and leg movements – on five men and five women. They found that masturbation had no significant effect on sleep. The experimental groups were compared to a control group that included reading neutral material.
Studies Recent shows have shown that having sex or masturbating can improve your sleep. In other words: if we believe that an orgasmic experience will put us on the fast track to the land of dreams, then we will probably fall asleep faster.
How can orgasms help you sleep better?
After sexual intercourse, the body releases hormones, such as oxytocin and prolactin that encourage feelings of satisfaction and happiness. At the same time, cortisol production – a hormone that causes alertness and excitement, decreases. This combination of hormonal processes makes people feel tired and ready for sleep.
Oxytocin, or the “love hormone”, also reduces the levels of cortisol, a non-stress hormone, in our blood. Cortisol levels rise in the morning, and among other things cause us to wake up. High levels of cortisol that occur during the latter part of the day can cause sleep disturbances, so orgasm at night may help lower them and get into a sleepy state more easily.
Another hormone that calls for sleep activity is serotonin, or “joy hormone” that floods the body during orgasm and is responsible for the uplifting mood that comes after it. Serotonin also helps regulate sleep and wake cycles, the brain uses serotonin to make melatonin – the main hormone for sleep – at night and releases it during the day. Low serotonin levels have been linked to depression and insomnia in a wide range of studies, and elevating them may improve mood and lead to better sleep.
Another important sleep-inducing hormone that orgasms produce is prolactin. It is best known for stimulating milk production in mothers, but is related to both the quality of orgasms and overall sexual satisfaction. When it comes to sleep, studies show that prolactin can cause rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which helps the brain process new memories and learned skills. Studies also show that lack of sleep can reduce prolactin levels.
A 2005 article published in the journal Biological Psychology analyzed prolactin levels in blood samples from 19 men and 19 women who masturbated or had sex in the lab until they reached orgasm. Researchers found that the increase in prolactin after the peak was five times higher after having sex with a partner compared to masturbation. The result suggests that sex with a partner may be more satisfying – at least in laboratory conditions, and of course dependent on the partner – than masturbation.
On the other hand, there are those who actually have difficulty falling asleep after orgasm. This is because when we masturbate or have sex, the blood flows to all parts of the body which stimulates the nervous system, muscles and brain. At the same time, the body also releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, which cause a feeling of alertness. This is why some people will prefer to masturbate in the morning: it improves mood thanks to oxytocin and serotonin, and boosts energy thanks to these stimulating hormones. The combination of these chemicals mimics the effects of meditation, so masturbation also helps to clear the head.
Can good sleep help orgasms?
Quality sleep has a wealth of health benefits. In the long run, adequate sleep may help improve cognitive function, boost your mood and reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease – benefits that can also improve sex life.
An extra hour of sleep a night was associated with a 14% increase in women’s chances of having sex with their partner, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The study, which was based on survey responses from 171 women taken over two weeks, also found an association between longer average sleep duration and better genital stimulation.
Lack of sleep, as well as obstructive sleep apnea – a disorder that causes repeated blockages in airflow during sleep – have been linked to erectile dysfunction in men and sexual dysfunction in women.
Another study of 93,668 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79 found that sleeping less than seven to eight hours a night was associated with a lower chance of sexual gratification, a trend that was maintained even when adjusted for other causes of insomnia, such as depression and chronic illness. Inadequate sleep also affects mental health, depression and anxiety tend to make people less interested in having sex.
“Both more sleep and more sex can have positive effects on our immune function, our heart health, pain receptors, stress levels, psychological well-being and our relationships,” says Michelle Lestella, a sleep researcher and senior lecturer at the Plato Institute of Behavioral Sciences at the University. CQAdelaide in Australia. “But one of the main problems in modern society is that we do not stop – we are addicted to our electronic devices, we are connected to our emails and other social media platforms that delay the start of our sleep.”