Sexual desire and sleep apnea, cause and effect in couples

One of the consequences of sleep apnea is the lack of sexual desire, which in men is linked to erectile dysfunction. Why does this relationship occur? We will talk about it below.

Although it occurs more in men than in women, sleep apnea is a problem that directly or indirectly affects both sexes. As we know, sleep apnoea is a disorder that occurs when breathing is interrupted during sleep. This narrowing or blockage of the airways will lead to a feeling of suffocation that will cause us to wake up several times during the night, preventing us from resting and spending our energy for the next day.

Consequences of sleep apnea

Many of the most common consequences are already known: mood changes, headaches, memory loss, problems urinating, lack of concentration, falling asleep while doing tasks that require special attention, depression, overweight, high blood pressure, swollen legs or hyperactive behaviour (especially in children).

But we cannot forget another of the consequences: the lack of sexual desire. Suffering from sleep apnoea is not a problem to be taken in silence, as it will affect both our health and that of our partner. Mainly because the person sleeping next to us will not rest properly either, being in a state of permanent tension when they see their partner suffocating and waking up constantly during the night.

On the other hand, we will pay for our tiredness, manifested in mood swings, with the person who spends more time with us at home: our partner.

In addition, and this is what we are going to focus on, this exhaustion will prevent us from developing our sexual desire.

Studies carried out by the University of Michigan School of Public Health state that after observing the sleep of 171 women during 14 consecutive days, they deduced that those who had rested better had more energy and greater sexual desire the following day. For every extra hour of rest, libido was increased by about 14%. Sleep apnoea is really negative, because REM sleep is vital for our body to recover psychologically, physically, emotionally and affectively. It is precisely on the emotional side that sudden vascular changes come into play, which will have a direct impact on sexual desire and genital sensitivity.

Sleep disturbances cause major metabolic changes that affect hormonal systems, including sex hormones, as well as neurotransmitter substances such as nitric oxide and dopamine. Hormonal changes in men, in the sexual aspect, have been more analysed throughout history, as they depend fundamentally on testosterone levels. Sleep apnoea will affect plasma testosterone levels, leading to a reduction in sperm production.

Erectile dysfunction and sleep apnea

Erectile dysfunction will certainly occur, because if apnoea damages our REM cycles, men will lose the popularly known morning erection, which is necessary for the health and oxygenation of our genitals.

On the other hand, women’s sexual behaviour will be conditioned by a balance between the secretion of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Data shows that between 42 and 64% of men suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are impotent.

However, everything has a solution. 17 out of 42 men suffering from erectile dysfunction who used the CPAP (continuous nocturnal air pressure) device saw an improvement in their sexual performance and desire.

A last alternative is surgery, but first we should try other remedies, such as weight loss. It is important to fight sleep apnoea on time, as our health and that of our partner is at stake. Good rest is vital for maintaining healthy sexual function in both men and women.