Summary

According to a 2005 study by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 25% of couples in the United States admit to being so sleepy that they have lost interest in lovemaking. People who snore also appear to have inferior sex lives, as one-third of people say that snoring causes a problem in their relationship.

Sleep and sex is not a topic on which a lot of research has been done," according to sleep medicine experts.  And, there are a lot of ways that sleep affects one’s sex life."

Separate beds, bedrooms, or sleeping on the couch may not be the answer either, as that could affect the psychological bond between the two of you.

Just how are sleep and sex related? Well, a low sex drive is the most common sexual complaint made by women--up to 30% to 40% of women.

Here are some facts relating sleep to a person's sex life:

* Lack of sleep causes moodiness, depression, and anxiety. These are emotions that obviously affect your drive for sex.

* Lack of sleep slows the basic thought processes. If you're not thinking straight, you may say or do something that can ruin the moment.

* Lack of sleep slows reaction time.

* Increased stress translates into less time for both sleep and sex.

* Lack of sleep from sleep disorders has been proven to cause certain levels of sexual dysfunction.

Medical Conditions That Will Affect Sleep & Sex

The medical condition most commonly associated with problems with sleep and sex is sleep apnea, in which the airway is closed when someone is snoring. People with sleep apnea may wake up as many as 400 times a night in order to breathe again, and this can cause severe daytime sleepiness, and irritability. Men with sleep apnea tend to have lower levels of testosterone, which can lower libido.

Other medical conditions that affect sleep and sex include diabetes, lung conditions, depression and heart disease. In addition, some medications that treat these conditions don’t help one’s sex life. For example, medications for high blood pressure may cause erectile dysfunction in men by inhibiting blood flow to the penis.

Others may have psychiatric or medical problems that interfere with their ability to sleep well and perform well sexually. Symptoms of depression and anxiety, for example, can include both insomnia and a diminished sex drive. And many antidepressants, which can sometimes cause erectile dysfunction and/or a loss of libido, further complicate matters.

Work Schedules

People may be skimping on sleep and sex because of a hectic work schedule. Even on the weekends, couples sometimes prefer catching up on their sleep to having sex.

Those  who do shift work at night may find it especially hard to obtain both sleep and sex. Not only is it is difficult for shift workers and their partners to find a time when they’re both free to have sex, they are often too tired to get in the mood when time becomes available. Being awake at night also throws off the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythms, which sleep medicine experts say can impair sexual functioning.

Men do not always budget time for sex either; they may say that, but research shows that they don't. Fatigue is a common reason that both men and women opt out of sex. Many people who deal with fatigue instead try to have sex in the morning when they may be less tired, if they tend to get more tired in the afternoon or evening. This may be a good solution for some men and their partners, too.

Some Tips For Couples

* Hire a babysitter -- maybe even one that takes the kids out, while men and their partners stay in for a romantic dinner.

* Go on a walk after dinner. This calms the kids, provides family time, gives everyone exercise which makes us tired enough for sleep but overall more healthy and active for sex.

* Give her a massage.

* Offer to draw her a warm bath.

* Hire someone to clean the house--a professional service or local college student.

* Take the TV out of the bedroom. Many women are watching TV before bed, which can make for restless sleep and less sex.

* To help relax women and to set the mood, men can work with their partners to decide on a decent and early enough bed routine for the kids, give their wife or girlfriend space to get any work needed done before bed, and then still have 30-60 minutes of relaxation time before sleep.