Can Lack of Sleep Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

If you struggle with erectile dysfunction (ED), you’re not alone — data suggests this medical condition affects around 30 million men in the U.S. And while there are many causes of erectile dysfunction, you may share one problem that’s common among adult men: a lack of sleep.

We know sleep is crucial to health and overall well-being, and not getting enough sleep can cause many issues in your daily life. It can also affect your erectile function in a number of ways, physically and psychologically.

Let’s explore the ways ED and sleep can be connected and how a good night’s rest might help improve your sex life.

Sleep loss can affect many areas of your overall health, and the men’s health effects of poor sleep quality can be both direct and indirect.

Research continues to show that getting too few hours of sleep increases your risk of numerous health problems, from cardiovascular issues like hypertension and heart disease to a higher risk of obesity, low testosterone levels, and increased blood pressure — and the list goes on.

For many men, ED is a vascular condition affecting the blood flow to the erectile tissues of the penis. That means that cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure are, unfortunately, risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

People who work overnight shifts may also experience issues. Working non-standard hours or night shifts can throw your circadian rhythm — the body’s internal clock that carries out essential functions — out of alignment and interfere with bodily functions, like erectile function and overall sexual function.

What’s more, poor sleep can sap you of sex hormones, increase cortisol levels, and up your risk of anxiety and depression — all of which are associated with an increased risk of ED.

So, can sleep deprivation also directly cause erectile dysfunction or other sexual dysfunction? Unfortunately, yes.

A lack of sleep can impact your mental and physical health, including sexual health. Sexual dysfunction can include a lack of sexual arousal or interest in sex, not being able to climax, and, in some cases, can even include downright painful sex, like a painful erection.

Chronic sleep disorders like insomnia or sleep apnea can also be a risk factor for (and accompany) ED.

If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep or don’t get quality sleep, you may be dealing with insomnia. Other symptoms of insomnia include lying awake for a long time, only sleeping for short amounts of time, or waking up too early in the morning.

A lack of sleep and disrupted sleep — common insomnia symptoms — have been linked to a higher risk of erectile dysfunction in several ways.

Lower Testosterone Levels

Disrupted sleep can also affect testosterone levels. Testosterone levels are generally at their highest during REM sleep, a stage of sleep with rapid eye movement (REM) and dreaming.

This disruption to levels of testosterone production could lead to hypogonadal symptoms, a condition where the body’s sex glands don’t produce hormones, and can potentially cause erectile dysfunction.

Worsened Mental Health

Sleep deprivation can also affect your sex life by exacerbating mental health concerns like depression and anxiety.

Mental health concerns can often influence sexual desire in men, and there can be a strong connection between erectile dysfunction and mental health concerns, as a 2015 study found.

Relationship Problems

Poor sleep or a lack of sleep can also lead to relationship issues, which can then affect sexual health and sexual activities with your partner. A lack of sleep can heighten stress and cause conflict with a partner.

Lack of sleep could be a possible cause of erectile dysfunction, but a particular condition that causes poor sleep might even affect your erectile health while you’re sleeping.

Sleep apnea is when your breathing stops and restarts multiple times while you’re asleep. There are two types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive sleep apnea. The most common type of sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea, occurs when your upper airway becomes blocked and airflow completely stops or significantly decreases.

• Central sleep apnea. This type of sleep apnea happens when your brain doesn’t send signals to breathe. It may be caused by health conditions that affect how your brain controls your chest muscles and airway.

Symptoms of severe sleep apnea can include loud snoring, feeling sleepy in the daytime, headaches, and sexual dysfunction or decreased libido.

A 2016 study also found that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a significantly higher risk of erectile dysfunction.

Now that we’ve determined that sleep, or lack thereof, can affect erectile function, let’s talk about the ways to right the ship.

Treating Sleep Deprivation

Since a lack of sleep and ED are connected, improving your sleep can help your sexual health and overall well-being.

Diagnosing and properly treating sleep disorders like sleep apnea can help improve sleep and, therefore, may improve your sex life. So, your journey to better sleep might start with talking to your healthcare provider.

We mentioned sleep apnea specifically because, in one randomized trial, using a consistent treatment plan for sleep apnea reduced erectile dysfunction in men. If you have sleep apnea, that may mean employing a continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machine.

For long-term insomnia, your healthcare provider may recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I can help you overcome the underlying cause of your sleep problems by identifying thoughts and behaviors that worsen sleep problems and replacing them with habits that promote sound sleep.

Sleep hygiene — or good sleep habits — is also important for quality sleep. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, making sure the room is dark and quiet, getting exercise during the day, and removing screens from your bedroom can all help improve sleep.

Treating Erectile Dysfunction

If sleep deprivation isn’t the cause of your erectile dysfunction, there are other treatment options that a urology or other healthcare professional can help you with.

Medications are a common option. There are several drugs that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for treating ED, including Viagra® (sildenafil), Cialis® (tadalafil), and Stendra® (avanafil).

Psychiatry is another treatment option for ED and can also be beneficial if you struggle with a sleep disorder or mental health condition like depression or anxiety. Consider therapy if your sex drive feels stunted by stress, anxiety, or depression.

Certain lifestyle changes like increased physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and quitting smoking have all been found to help with erectile dysfunction prevention.

Can lack of sleep cause erectile dysfunction? Yes.

There are many links between lack of sleep and ED. From worsening mental health issues to impacting testosterone levels and more, a lack of sleep can affect your sex life and sexual performance.

There are also many ways you can manage sleep deprivation and treat erectile dysfunction, from getting better rest and sticking to a better bedtime routine to seeing a healthcare provider and learning more about erectile dysfunction medications.

Ready to get better sleep, improved quality of life, and better erections? Reach out today.