How Sexual Activity Can Improve Your Sleep Quality

Science Reveals a Sexy, Sleep-Boosting Secret

Sex Before Bed and Sleep Quality: What You Need to Know

If you struggle to get a good night's rest, you may find that sexual activity before bed can significantly improve your sleep quality. A new study has confirmed what many already suspected, sexual activity just before sleep can lead to better rest and improved readiness for the next day.

The Study Behind the Findings

Researchers at Central Queensland University and Flinders University in Australia monitored the sleep quality of seven heterosexual couples over 11 consecutive nights. Each night, couples alternated between solo masturbation, partnered sex, or no sexual activity. Participants completed daily surveys about their sexual activity and sleep, while their sleep quality was objectively measured using polysomnography headsets that recorded brain activity, movement, and breathing.

Key Results from the Research

On nights with some form of sexual activity, participants pushed back their bedtimes by up to half an hour. However, this was compensated by a greater sleep efficiency and less time spent awake during the night. These findings were confirmed by the sleep-recording headsets and not simply based on self-reported data.

Participants also reported feeling more motivated and ready for the day following sexual activity. On a 100-point scale, they noted an increase of up to 5 points in motivation after solo sexual activity and up to 11 points after partnered sex. These improvements did not extend to the speed at which participants fell asleep or the total time they slept, but the researchers believe this could be due to the small sample size of the study.

Considerations for Future Research

Sleep sport scientist Michele Lastella and his colleagues believe that future research should involve larger sample sizes, a wider range of sexualities, and "include individuals with sleep disorders, health conditions, and a broader age range." They also note that having to put on a headset and start a phone app immediately after sexual activity might have slightly diminished the participants' afterglow and possibly influenced the results.

Your call to action for sex before bed and sleep quality

If you experience restless nights, you may want to consider adding sexual activity to your bedtime routine. Whether alone or with a partner, the evidence suggests that sexual activity can improve sleep efficiency and leave you feeling more motivated and ready for the day ahead. Start by being mindful of how your bedtime habits affect your sleep and consider experimenting with this natural, intimate method to boost your nightly rest.

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Study Links:

https://www.sleephealthjournal.org/article/S2352-7218(24)00261-4/fulltext

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26318318241256455#bibr1-26318318241256455

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2023.0061