Lack of sleep disrupts sexuality. A pilot study reveals that sleeping too little reduces both sexual desire and arousal in women.
This is certainly one of the most cited reasons for avoiding sexual intercourse. But lack of sleep is not an empty excuse. It actually affects desire and arousal, according to a study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The better a woman sleeps, the more likely she is to feel desire afterwards, according to researchers.
171 women participated in this pilot study. They first underwent a battery of laboratory tests. Then, for 14 consecutive days, the participants filled out questionnaires on their sexual activity, alone or as a couple, and on the characteristics of it (desire, excitement, orgasm).
The answers of these ladies might disappoint their male partners. Women who slept little said they were less physically aroused than those who slept the most. The latter also felt more desire. Thus, each additional hour of sleep increases the chances of having sex with a partner by 14%. The fatigue of the day does not influence these results.
“These results indicate that insufficient sleep duration can reduce sexual desire and arousal in women. I think the key message is not that the more you sleep the better, but rather that it is important to allow yourself as much sleep as is necessary for the body and the mind”, analyzes Dr. David Kalmbach, lead author of the study.
