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 got their eyes closed, according to a study published Wednesday in Menopause: The Journal of The North American Menopause Society.
In contrast, the study also found that good sleep quality was linked to having more sexual activity, a result that “doesn’t surprise anyone, does it?” said lead author Dr. Stephanie Faubion, who heads the Mayo Clinic’s Women’s Health Center.
“If you put a sleeping pad and a sex pad in front of a tired woman, she will choose to sleep every time,” said Faubion, who is also the medical director of the North American Menopausal Society.
These results, she added, should be a wake-up call for doctors to start asking their patients about their sleep and sexual functioning.
“In an ideal world, every woman should be asked by her primary care provider about her sexual function. Is this happening? No, it is not happening,” Faubion said.
“Sleep can be a little easier to ask, and poor sleep is associated with so many negative outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease,” she added. “If she doesn’t sleep well, that brings you to the next question, because sexual function probably suffers as well.”
Sleep and sex are intertwined
Not only women suffer from sexual dysfunction due to poor sleep. It also affects men.
There are, on the other hand, a number of reasons why good sex is linked to better sleep.
Orgasms are not only relaxing, they can promote sleep, but there is an increase in certain hormones that help sleep in both men and women after sex.
The first study to ask about suffering
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, were also subjected to a clinical evaluation of sexual dysfunction and asked to assess their level of suffering in terms of their sex life – a first for a study of this kind. , said Faubion.
“You can’t call it sexual dysfunction unless a woman is upset about it,” she said. “For example, a woman may have low sexual desire, but it may not bother her. So we are the first study I know of that actually looked at not only sexual function, but also the suffering associated with it. “
In addition to poor quality sleep, the new study found that women who slept less than five hours a night regularly were also more likely to report sexual problems.
However, the results were not statistically significant once factors such as age, partner status, education, race / ethnicity, body mass index, reproductive status, depression, anxiety, relationship stress, and use were analyzed. contraception and other medications.
Because all these factors can be disruptive Sleep was important to consider in order to label poor sleep as a possible cause, Faubion said.
What to do?
First, feel free to talk to your doctor about both sleep and sexual problems, Faubion said.
While most women will be able to 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 an uncontrollable urge to sleep. your legs move called restless legs syndrome.
“Women’s partners can help them identify if they are snoring, waking up snoring and coughing, or hitting their partner all night,” Said Faubrion.
Women can do everything possible to practice good sleep hygiene. Here are some expert tips:
Exercise, outside, if possible. Try to do some exercises that will reduce the accumulated stress chemicals and promote better sleep. Try doing this outside – sunlight can help you restore your body clock.
Set up your bedroom for 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 an easier level of rest that can be more easily interrupted, so make an effort to get little sound, low light and cooler temperatures in the bedroom – between 60 and 67 degrees is best.
Follow your diet. Avoid caffeine after 3 pm and fatty, spicy foods before bed, so that your stomach pain does not wake you up while you dream.
Get ready for relaxation. Taking a hot bath or shower, reading a book, listening to soothing music, meditating or doing light stretches are all good options.