good sleep and good sex linked for women
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'if you put a platter of sleep and a platter of sex in front of a tired woman, she’s going to pick sleep every time.'
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older women who struggle to get a good night’s sleep are almost twice as likely to report an unsatisfactory sex life, according to a new study researchers say should serve as a wake-up call for doctors.
the study, published in the journal menopause, found that women who toss and turn all night were more likely to experience a lack of sexual interest or pleasure than their more rested peers. it also found a good night’s sleep was associated with more sexual activity. “(that) doesn’t surprise anyone, right?” said stephanie faubion, senior author of the study and medical director of the north american menopause society, according to cnn.
“if you put a platter of sleep and a platter of sex in front of a tired woman, she’s going to pick sleep every time,” she said.
the study recruited more than 3,400 women with an average age of 53 who had visited mayo health clinics in minnesota and arizona between december 2016 and september 2019. participants answered questions on sleep quality and were clinically assessed for sexual dysfunction before being asked to rate the level of distress they were experiencing with regards to their sex lives — a component missing from previous studies.
“you can’t call it sexual dysfunction unless a woman is distressed about it,” faubion said. “for example, a woman can have low sexual desire, but it may not bother her. so, we are the first study to my knowledge that has actually looked not only at sexual function, but distress related to that.”
the study also found that women who typically slept for less than five hours per night were more likely to report sexual problems but this finding was no longer statistically significant once variables such as age, education, race, body mass index, depression, anxiety and partner status were introduced. this led researchers to conclude quality of sleep — not quantity — was associated with sexual activity.
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sexual dysfunction generally entails persistent, recurrent problems related to sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain that cause distress to an individual or strains a relationship with a partner, according to the mayo clinic. symptoms vary but can include low sexual arousal, sexual arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder or sexual pain disorder. because the nature of sexual response involves a complex relationship between physiology, emotions, experiences and beliefs, among other factors, treatment can vary and usually includes more than one avenue of approach.
non-medical intervention for female sexual dysfunction can include improving avenues of communication with a partner and focusing on healthy lifestyle habits, such as increasing physical activity and decreasing alcoholic intake. counselling is encouraged, as is the use of bedroom aids such as vibrators and lubricants. if these are ineffective, doctors may suggest medication or estrogen therapy to address an underlying condition.
doctors need to be aware of the association between lack of sleep and sexual dysfunction when dealing with patients, faubion said.
“in an ideal world, every woman should be asked by her primary care provider about her sexual function,” she said. “is that happening? no, it’s not happening. sleep may be something easier to ask about, and poor sleep is associated with so many negative outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease.”
men also experience sleep-related sexual dysfunction, with previous research linking sleep apnea and interrupted sleep to erectile dysfunction, among other difficulties. good sex, on the other hand, has been associated with a better night’s rest, thanks to sleep-inducing hormones that are elevated in men and women following orgasm.
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while women may be able to identify the symptoms of other conditions, such as mood disorders, sleep-related issues can be more difficult to identify, faubion said.
“women’s partners can help them identify if they’re snoring, waking up snorting and coughing or if they’re kicking their partner all night long.”
but above all, women experiencing prolonged difficulties related to sleep or sexual activity should not be afraid to raise the issue with their doctor as soon as possible, she said. “these are two common issues for midlife women and asking about and addressing each may contribute to improved quality of life. if she’s not sleeping well, that leads you to the next question, because sexual function is probably suffering, too.”
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca
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