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Orgasms help you sleep better and improve sleep quality by 54%.
Increase in oxytocin, the “love hormone”
Orgasms help boost oxytocin levels, leading to lower levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. If you had a particularly challenging day, this increase in oxytocin can help you disconnect from work and enjoy a night of uninterrupted sleep. According to James, “Oxytocin promotes a sense of tranquillity, putting us in the relaxed state we need to fall asleep.”
Orgasms as natural pain relief
The endorphins released during an orgasm act as the body’s natural painkillers, helping to alleviate headaches, muscle aches, and other discomforts that might otherwise interfere with sleep. This natural relief enhances overall physical comfort, allowing the body to relax and improving sleep quality.
Orgasms increase serotonin, the “happy hormone”
The euphoric feeling experienced during an orgasm is partly attributed to increased serotonin levels. This neurotransmitter plays a crucial role in forming melatonin, the primary hormone responsible for inducing sleep, helping to regulate sleep-wake cycles. However, it’s important to approach serotonin cautiously; while it is a precursor to melatonin, which signals the body when to sleep, it can also promote wakefulness and inhibit REM sleep.
Prolactin prevails
While many people recognise prolactin as the hormone responsible for milk production in those who have given birth, it is also linked to quality orgasms and overall sexual satisfaction. Prolactin levels rise as we approach bedtime, and orgasms can elevate these levels for up to an hour afterwards. Prolactin not only influences how quickly we fall asleep but also impacts the quality and duration of our sleep.
Prolactin can induce rapid eye movement (REM) and is typically found to be higher in those who achieve orgasm with a partner, rather than through masturbation. Masturbation may not be effective for everyone. According to James, “Whether you can achieve a similar effect through masturbation depends on the individual, as some may not experience the same effects with a partner as others do. In theory, masturbation could have a similar effect, but the emotional connection with a partner plays a significant role; feeling in love and emotionally safe can make us feel more relaxed and ready for sleep.”
Release of physical tension
Orgasms help relax muscles throughout the entire body, providing a deep sense of full-body relaxation. This release of tension eases tightness and physical discomfort, making it significantly easier to unwind and transition into restful, uninterrupted sleep.
Enhanced mood and comfortable bed-sharing
A satisfying sex life, including real orgasms, can boost libido and strengthen emotional intimacy with a partner. This deeper connection fosters relaxation, closeness, and a sense of emotional security, making bed-sharing more comfortable. This can be further enhanced by a ‘good hormone-inducing’ couple’s nighttime routine. James continues: “In the hour before bed, focus on activities that promote relaxation—such as taking a bubble bath, listening to soothing music, or watching a funny or romantic film together.”
However, ‘The Sleep Geek’ cautions against the potential of orgasms to act as an adrenaline booster:
“When inducing orgasms, aim to keep physical activity moderate; being too vigorous can trigger sleep-reducing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. I’d recommend aiming for a performance level of about 2 out of 5—nothing too physically intense, as I’m sure we’re all capable of that!”
How to boost your chances of better sex and orgasms
- Keep your bedroom clear and free of clutter: Nothing quite kills libido (and sleep!) like a messy space. Ensure your bedroom keeps mess to a minimum by decluttering regularly, ensuring everything has its own space, and carrying out regular tidying as well as scheduling deep cleans.
- Curate a sexy environment: Incorporating candles and mood lamps can give you a cosier, dimly-lit vibe in the bedroom that facilitates intimacy. On a similar note, why not try essential oil diffusion to get you both in the mood? Essential oils like sandalwood, ylang-ylang and lavender, work to decrease anxiety and stress, boost mood and generally make you feel more comfortable in getting frisky.
- Three’s a crowd: While sharing your bed with your pet can reduce anxiety and improve your mood, it can make things awkward when it comes to spending some one-on-one time with your partner. That doesn’t mean you have to banish your pet entirely, but setting boundaries around bedtime can be helpful.
- Don’t bring external stress to bed with you: Put your phone on do not disturb mode (DND), create a shared wind-down routine- for example, no screens within an hour of bedtime, drinking herbal teas and incorporating practices that make you feel more relaxed such as stretching or reading.
- Communicate with your partner and spend quality time together: Schedule time before bed to debrief, decompress and reconnect with one another. The individual stressors within your days can make it difficult to find time to reconnect. Ensure you’re carving out a slice of time to move past these before you sit down to binge your favourite series, as sharing these moments can put you back on the same page.
