Getting More Sleep Can Help Improve Your Sex Life

Getting More Sleep Can Help Improve Your Sex Life

Sleep and sex just became a little more entangled.

While the effects of birth control on sleep are still being heavily debated, a study found that women who get a better night’s sleep are more likely to have better sex.

The relationship between a better night’s sleep and better sex were especially positively related when it came to women between the ages of 50 to 79.

The study was conducted by researchers at The North American Menopause Society and studied the sleeping habits of 93,668 women. When asked about their sexual satisfaction, 56% of the participants identified with being, “somewhat or very satisfied with their current sexual activity.”

“Women and healthcare providers need to recognize the link between menopause symptoms and inadequate sleep and their effects on sexual satisfaction,” explains Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. “There are effective treatment options to help with sleep disruption and sexual satisfaction, including hormone therapy, which this study confirmed to be effective at menopause for symptomatic women.”

Insomnia, or other causes of lost sleep, often create a “sleep debt.” Harvard Health recommends paying off “sleep debt” with extra hours of sleep on weekends or naps throughout the week.

For those women who were getting less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep, the study found that they were 30% less likely to be sexually active when compared to those getting a regular amount of sleep.

Cover image courtesy of Getty Images.