Can Sleep affect Erectile Dysfunction?
The prestigious medical journal The Lancet in late 2023 boldly stated that ‘sleep should be promoted as an essential pillar of health, equivalent to nutrition and physical activity’, which grows as a more significant statement the more it is considered.
As a clinical nurse I have done hundreds of nightshifts and still do to this day. Sleep remains a pivotal aspect of our overall health and new research is constantly adding to understanding of this necessary ‘activity’.
What Are the Recommended Hours of Sleep?
The unambiguously named Sleep Foundation declares that measuring or quantifying sleep is ‘more of an art than a science’, but has these markers of sleep quality to observe-
- Falling asleep within 30minutes of getting into bed.
- Sleeping through the night, waking no more than once.
- Getting the recommended hours of sleep per night for your age (adults = 7hours).
- Falling back to sleep within 20minutes if you do wake up.
- Feeling ‘rested, restored and energized upon waking up in the morning’.
Sleep & Erectile Dysfunction
61% of Australian men report some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED) from the age of 45 years onwards.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a strong correlation with ED. Proper use of CPAP by men at night can reverse the effect of severe OSA on erections (to some effect) either with or without PDE5i medications use (such as Viagra).
Research has also examined men who do shift work (work activity beginning before 7am or after 6pm). Men in this study who reported their sleep as “very dissatisfied” due to shift-work, reported significantly lower erectile function scores.
Insomnia (separate to shift work) has also been shown to effect erectile quality.
Treatments for Sleep Deficiency
Sleep hygiene- is a term which relates to the habits and activities that can affect both the quality of sleep at night and improve alertness during the day. A research paper from Pittsburgh showed that improved sleep hygiene in a sample of 377 male patients resulted in better reported sleep and also higher erectile function scores.
Examples of good sleep hygiene are-
- Reducing caffeine drinks in evening
- Reducing nicotine in the evening
- Reducing daytime naps
- Reducing electronic screen light
- Increasing daytime exposure to sunlight
- Increasing exercise
Melatonin- Melatonin is a hormone which is naturally produced from the body’s pineal gland. Melatonin levels fluctuate throughout the day and are lowest in bright sunlight and higher during nighttime.
Natural melatonin delivery can be altered in people who use smart-phones, tablets or televisions at nighttime, as the bright lights from these devices affect the body’s melatonin release.
Melatonin supplements are available with a doctor’s prescription or can be purchased over the counter for people over 55 years in Australia. There are precautions for its use in people on anti-depressant medication or those using other sedatives (or in pregnancy/ breastfeeding).
Real Men’s Health Takeaway
If your partner is concerned about your snoring, speak to a GP about a sleep apnea assessment.
Correcting sleep apnea can positively improve your erectile health and energy levels, which all contribute to better men’s health.
