In fact, women who slept poorly were almost twice as likely to report problems such as lack of sexual interest or pleasure as women who had many eyes closed, according to the study published Wednesday in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society. .
In contrast, the study also found that good sleep quality was related to having more sexual activity, a result that “doesn’t surprise anyone, does it?” said lead author Stephanie Faubion, who heads the Mayo Clinic’s Women’s Health Center.
“If you put a plate of sleep and another of sex in front of a tired woman, she will go to bed every time,” said Faubion, who is also the medical director of the American Menopausal Society.
These results, he added, should be a wake-up call for doctors to start asking their patients about their sleep and sexual functioning.
“In an ideal world, all women should be asked by their primary care provider about their sexual function. Is this happening? No, it’s not happening,” Faubion said.
“Sleep can be something easier to ask and bad sleep is associated with so many negative outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease,” he added. “If you don’t sleep well, that will lead you to the next question, because sexual function probably suffers from it as well.”
Sleep and sex are intertwined
Not only women experience sexual dysfunction due to poor sleep. It also affects men.
There are several reasons, on the other hand, why having good sex is related to better sleep.
Orgasms are not only relaxing, which can promote sleep, but they result in an increase in certain hormones that help sleep in both men and women after sex.
First study to ask about anxiety
In the new study, more than 3,400 women who visited Mayo health clinics in Rochester, Minnesota and Scottsdale, Arizona, completed sleep quality questionnaires between December 2016 and September 2019.
The women, who had a mean age of 53, also underwent clinical evaluations for their sexual dysfunction and were asked to rate their level of anxiety about their sex life, the first for a study. of that kind, Faubion said.
“It can’t be called sexual dysfunction unless a woman is anxious,” he said. “For example, a woman may have low sexual desire, but it may not bother her. Therefore, we are the first study I know of that has taken into account not only sexual function, but anxiety related to it.”
In addition to poor quality sleep, the new study found that women who slept regularly less than five hours a night were also more likely to report sexual problems.
However, the results were not statistically significant after analyzing factors such as age, marital status, education, race / ethnicity, body mass index, reproductive stage, depression, anxiety, relationship discomfort, and the use of contraception and other medications.
Since all these factors can be altered Faubion, it was important to consider these aspects in order to label poor sleep as a possible cause.
What to do?
First, feel free to talk to your doctor about both sleep and sexual issues, Faubion said.
While most women may identify that they suffer from a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety, they may not realize that they are struggling with other problems such as sleep apnea or a sleep disorder. uncontrollable desire to move the legs called restless leg syndrome.
“Couples of women can help them identify if they snore, wake up snoring and coughing, or kick their partner all night.” Faubrion said.
Women can also do their best to practice good sleep hygiene. Here are some expert tips:
Exercise, unless possible. Try to do some exercise, which will reduce the accumulated stress chemicals and promote better sleep. Try it out: Sunlight can help you restore your body clock.
Set up your bedroom for an optimal sleep. One of the first tasks is to set up your sleep environment and establish a relaxing bedtime routine. The REM stage of sleep is a lighter level of rest that can be interrupted more easily, so look for low sounds, low light and cooler temperatures in the room – between 60 and 67 degrees is better.
Monitor your diet. Avoid caffeine after 3pm and fatty, spicy foods before bed, so your gastric distress won’t wake you up while you dream.
Get ready to relax. Taking a hot bath or shower, reading a book, listening to quiet music, meditating or doing light stretches are good options.