Lack of sleep has been linked with low libido and poor sexual arousal in women and erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. According to sleep scientist Matthew Walker, our reproductive hormones, crucial for sexual health, are impacted when we don’t get enough sleep (per TED). “Young men who are sleeping just five hours a night for one week will have a level of testosterone which is that of someone 10 years their senior,” shared Walker. Having low testosterone levels means you’re likely to experience a low sex drive and problems achieving an erection. For women, insufficient sleep can impact their luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone; a woman’s sexual health and fertility depend on these hormones functioning properly.
According to a 2015 study on women published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, getting just one extra hour of sleep was linked with a 14% increased chance of engaging in intimacy with your partner. How you feel mentally and emotionally when you’re well rested can also enhance your sex life. If you’re less cranky and irritable, there’s less chance of conflict with your significant other and a higher chance of intimacy.
While naps aren’t an answer to consistently poor quality sleep, they can help people who experience sleep debt, a situation in which you’re getting less than your recommended hours of sleep (7-9 hours in adults). This is what happens to some people in medical professions, airlines, and those who do shift-work and naps can be a useful way to recover lost sleep.