Some men are early birds, while others are night owls.
Either way, you should always think about getting enough sleep for the day. Our bodies have natural rhythmic cycles that should be followed. If these cycles get disrupted, then your whole body will react negatively.
So if you like to stay up late at night or think you might have insomnia, it’s advised to check in with a health professional to give your heart AND pecker a break!
What does having inadequate sleeping patterns have to do with your penis?
Well, it has A LOT to do, actually!
And you’re about to find out through this article!
1. How Does Inadequate Sleep Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
This often comes as a surprise to most men, but sleep deprivation can lead to the development of erectile dysfunction (ED). Though in most cases, it can be a glimmer of hope since it can be easily fixed. Inadequate sleep can result in the following issues:
· Reduction in your sex drive
· Inability to get an erection
· Inability to perform in bed
Inadequate sleep happens when you get less than the standard required time for rest, which is about 7-9 hours per day for adults.
Though a couple of nights of sleep deprivation will not cause ED, eventually, you may feel less enthusiastic about performing in bed.
2. Why Getting Enough Sleep Is Important for Your Sex Drive
Sleep is vital for enhancing sex drive since the male hormone – testosterone – is mainly produced when you sleep. Testosterone is a hormone that is very crucial for having a strong drive for sex and plays a role in preventing erectile dysfunction. With low levels of testosterone, a man will experience reduced sexual desire and sexual performance.
According to a study published in 2010*, 531 men who slept less than 4 hours had deficient testosterone levels compared to patients who slept for 8 hours or more.
Testosterone levels typically rise in the morning and are at their lowest before falling asleep. You can say that sleep is like filling up your testosterone engine to be used throughout the day (and especially at night).
*Goh VH, Tong TY. Sleep, sex steroid hormones, sexual activities, and aging in Asian men. J Androl. 2010 Mar-Apr;31(2):131-7. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.109.007856. Epub 2009 Aug 14. PMID: 19684340.
3. How to Pay the Cost of Sleep Debt
If you’re not getting adequate sleep, that means you are incurring debts on your shoulders.
Hence, in order to pay your body back and get healthier, you can:
Stick to a 7-hour sleeping schedule per week to get a full night’s rest.
- Monday through Friday, sleep for 6 hours to cover your “debt” of 5 hours.
- On Friday night and Saturday night, sleep an extra few hours to pay off the rest.
Cramming your long nights of sleep in 2 days will not remove the effects of sleep deprivation.
You might feel good for a while, but the impact of sleep deprivation won’t completely go away.
The only way you can REALLY repay your sleep debt is by establishing and sticking to a healthy pattern of sleep over time.
