Sex And Orgasm Lead To Better Sleep... "Effects Are Even Stronger For Women"

On days with sexual activity, deep sleep up 11.7%
Impact of oxytocin, serotonin, and prolactin secretion

There is new analysis suggesting that sexual activity has a positive impact on sleep quality. The core finding of the research is that it goes beyond a simple psychological calming effect and actually leads to measurable improvements in sleep indicators.

The British daily newspaper The Telegraph reported this on February 10 (local time) in an interview with Dr. Christine Holmes, a sleep and recovery expert and psychophysiologist.

Holmes, Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist at the wearable health company Whoop, said, "Insomnia is a product of modern life that has drifted away from nature's biological rhythms," adding, "Artificial lighting and late bedtime habits affect both sleep and sexual desire."

Holmes emphasized that sexual activity helps improve sleep. An analysis of data from fitness tracker users showed that on days when they had sex, deep sleep increased by about 11.7% compared to days without sex. Total sleep time also increased by 2.4%. She said, "Sex has an effect similar to moderate drinking in that it relaxes tension and enhances intimacy," adding, "From arousal to orgasm, neurochemicals that heighten pleasure, trust, and bonding are released."

The main neurochemical she refers to is oxytocin. This substance lowers cortisol, a stress hormone, thereby easing tension. Prolactin, which is released at the moment of orgasm, dampens sexual arousal and enhances a sense of calm, inducing drowsiness. Some studies have reported that men tend to feel sleepy more quickly after orgasm because the increase in prolactin is greater, but this appears to vary from person to person.

A study that analyzed 43 papers published in the international journal The Journal of Sexual Medicine also found a significant correlation between the frequency of sexual activity and both sleep duration and sleep quality. In an analysis by an Australian research team using digital sleep-tracking devices in real home environments, the average time spent awake during the night on days with sexual activity before bedtime was 16 minutes, which was 7 minutes shorter than on days without such activity (23 minutes). Sleep efficiency was also 93.4%, about 2 percentage points higher.

In particular, among women, there was a tendency for sleep duration to increase and the number of nighttime awakenings to decrease after sexual activity, whether alone or with a partner. This contrasts with the common belief that only men fall asleep immediately after sex.

Holmes explained, "Ultimately, orgasm itself is the key factor that improves sleep quality," adding, "Sex and sleep are closely interconnected."