Not getting enough sleep may affect your intimate life.

The article reports that poor or disrupted sleep is linked to erectile dysfunction (ED) through vascular, hormonal and mental health pathways. It notes that sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea have been associated with higher risk of ED and that treating sleep problems has been associated with reduced ED in some studies.

Many men experience erectile dysfunction (ED), and the article links one common factor to those struggles: insufficient or disrupted sleep. Poor sleep is reported to affect cardiovascular health, hormone production and mental well-being, all of which are described as pathways that can influence intimate function. The article summarizes research tying sleep disorders and shift work to changes in arousal, libido and sexual performance. It also notes studies that examined whether treating sleep problems can change outcomes for ED. Key findings: - The article cites that ED affects around 30 million men in the U.S. and links poor sleep to several health risks that are also ED risk factors, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and obesity. - Sleep disruption can affect hormone production; testosterone levels are generally highest during REM sleep, and disturbed sleep is reported to affect testosterone and related hypogonadal symptoms. - Chronic sleep problems such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea are reported to be associated with a higher risk of ED, and a 2016 study is specifically mentioned for that association. - The article reports that a randomized trial found consistent treatment for sleep apnea reduced ED in men, and it describes cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as an approach cited for long-term insomnia. Summary: Poor or disrupted sleep is described as a factor that can affect intimate health through vascular, hormonal and mental-health pathways. The article reports studies linking insomnia and sleep apnea to higher risk of ED and notes that treating sleep disorders has been associated with reduced ED in some trials. Undetermined at this time.