Three Reasons We Sleep Better After Sex

We get countless benefits from having a good, regular sex life and sleeping better is just one of them. Over the years, various studies have shown the importance of sex for our physical and mental health, as well as the value of a restful sleep. The truth is they go hand in hand: the more sex we have, the more natural we'll fall asleep, and more sleep boosts our sex drive.

Those two are deeply interconnected: our sex life has a significant influence on our sleep habits, but our sleep habits could help or hurt our sex life. If you're not sleeping well because of stress or lack of proper resting conditions, you'll be tired, grumpy and irritable and your sex drive is going to be way down. If your partner has sleep apnea or moves a lot in bed and keeps you awake, your sex drive will be severely damaged.

I believe you all have noticed that sex makes you sleep better, but have you ever wondered why? There are a few scientifically documented reasons, and I thought it would be useful to take a quick look at the most important ones. Keep in mind that they have a stronger influence on men than on women, although the conclusion is valid for both sexes: we all get better sleep after sex.

Hormonal changes

Sex is responsible for increasing the level of oxytocin in our body. Known as "the love hormone," oxytocin is in charge of activating the sensation of deep connection to our partner. Also, sex helps reduce the production of cortisol, which plays a vital role in how stressed we feel. When such changes happen, our bodies relax, and this encourages a pleasant transition towards sleeping. Stressful thoughts vanish from our minds, and we feel light-hearted and carefree. A calm mind makes it easy for the body to plunge into a peaceful sleep.

Orgasms

Having an orgasm helps the body produce all those beneficial hormones meant to induce relaxation. The male body releases prolactin, a biochemical directly responsible for the fatigue sensation. This hormone, in fact, suppresses dopamine, a stimulating neurotransmitter which makes you feel awake and stay active. And the body releases it plentifully when you come! Also, the endorphins in our brain (which are "feel-good" neurotransmitters too) get fired up during an orgasm. Thus, we get the feelings of profound intimacy and euphoria which both have a powerful calming effect on our body.

Lights out and comfortable beds

When you're having sex with the lights out, you're sending a signal to your body's internal clock. Your message is that it's time for sleep because our mind is used to associate the horizontal position in bed and the lack of light with the opportunity for getting the necessary rest. As the body receives this signal, another hormone called melatonin starts doing its job which is to initiate the sleep cycle. If you have a comfortable bed, with the right mattress for sex, your body will feel so relaxed and happy; it's no wonder you'll slip into the dreams' world in no time.

As I was saying earlier, the influence of sex over sleep manifests differently for men and women. Usually, men feel tired and ready to sleep immediately after sex, while women still feel full of energy. That doesn't mean that ladies don't get a good sleep after sex: their estrogen levels increase after intercourse, and that enhances the chances for a more profound rest (even if it won't happen right away). Men, on the other hand, can pass out within minutes after sex, mainly if they had an orgasm! 

James Randowski is a huge geek who loves to fly his drones with his pet, Roxy. During the weekends, he enjoys reading books and hiking.