Sleep Apnea Surprising Effects on Sex Drive
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Updated on 26 December, 2023
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Sleep apnea is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a sleep disorder where the individual’s breathing is interrupted while they sleep, leading to a disruption in the quality of sleep. Sleep apnea can have several adverse effects on an individual’s health, including a decrease in sex drive and sexual health. The effects of sleep apnea on sexual function or sex lives is not something that is normally considered when individuals are diagnosed – however there is an impact.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where the individual’s breathing is repeatedly interrupted while they sleep. This can occur due to several reasons, including the relaxation of the muscles in the throat, which can cause the airway to narrow or close completely. When the individual stops breathing, the brain is signaled to wake up and restore normal breathing. This can happen multiple times during the night, leading to a disruption in the quality of sleep.
Types of Sleep Apnea
There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), and complex sleep apnea syndrome (CompSAS).
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, accounting for around 80% of cases. OSA occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat fail to keep the airway open, leading to snoring, gasping, or choking.
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is less common than OSA and is caused by a failure of the brain to send the proper signals to the muscles responsible for breathing. This can result in the individual stopping breathing for short periods during sleep.
Complex sleep apnea syndrome (CompSAS) is a combination of OSA and CSA and is also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea. This condition can occur when an individual is being treated for OSA, but their breathing difficulties continue or even worsen.
Risk Factors Of Sleep Apnea
Obesity (body weight): People who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. Excess weight can cause fat deposits around the airway, which can obstruct breathing.
Age: Sleep apnea can affect people of any age, but it is more common in older adults.
Gender: Men are more likely to develop sleep apnea than women.
Family history: Sleep apnea tends to run in families, suggesting that there may be a genetic component to the condition.
AdvertisementsSmoking: Smoking can lead to inflammation and swelling in the airway, which can increase the risk of sleep apnea.
Alcohol and sedative use: Alcohol and sedatives can relax the muscles in the throat, which can increase the risk of sleep apnea.
Nasal congestion: Nasal congestion can obstruct the airway, making it more difficult to breathe during sleep.
Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, are associated with an increased risk of sleep apnea.
Sleeping position: Sleeping on one’s back can increase the risk of sleep apnea, as it can cause the tongue and soft palate to collapse into the back of the throat.
How Is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed?
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram. During a sleep study, a person spends the night in a sleep lab or a hospital, and their breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, and brain activity are monitored. The following are the steps involved during diagnosis:
Medical history and physical examination: The healthcare provider will ask the patient about their symptoms, medical history, and any medications they are taking. They will also perform a physical examination to check for any anatomical abnormalities that could be contributing to sleep apnea.
Sleep study: A sleep study involves monitoring a person’s breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels, and brain activity while they sleep. The study is usually conducted in a sleep lab, but in some cases, it can be done at home using portable equipment.
Sleep apnea severity: Based on the results of the sleep study, the healthcare provider will determine the severity of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of breathing pauses or reductions in breathing that occur per hour of sleep.
Other tests: In some cases, additional tests may be needed to evaluate the impact of sleep apnea on the body, such as an echocardiogram to assess heart function or a blood test to check for diabetes.
Biological Factors of Sleep Apnea That Affects Sexual Health and Drive
Sleep apnea can have several adverse effects on an individual’s sexual health and drive. During an episode of sleep apnea, the body is deprived of oxygen, leading to an increase in the production of stress hormone levels (resulting in increase of stress levels) such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can cause several physiological changes in the body, including a decrease in testosterone levels.
Testosterone is a hormone that plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of male sexual health and drive. Low levels of testosterone can lead to several sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction, low libido, and decreased sexual satisfaction.
In addition to the effects on testosterone levels, sleep apnea can also cause a disruption in the normal sleep cycle, leading to fatigue and daytime sleepiness. This can make it challenging to engage in sexual activity, leading to a decrease in sexual drive and performance.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea That Affect Sexual Health
There are several symptoms of sleep apnea that can affect an individual’s sexual health, including:
Snoring: Loud snoring can be a symptom of sleep apnea and can disrupt the individual’s sleep and their partner’s sleep, leading to fatigue and daytime sleepiness.
Fatigue and daytime sleepiness: Sleep apnea can lead to a disruption in the normal sleep cycle, leading to fatigue and daytime sleepiness. This can make it challenging to engage in sexual activity, leading to a decrease in sexual drive and performance.
Sexual Side Effects Caused by Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea can cause several sexual dysfunctions, including:
- Erectile dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual dysfunction that can be caused by low testosterone levels. Sleep apnea can lead to a decrease in testosterone levels, leading to a negative impact on erectile function.
- Low libido: Low libido is a decreased interest in sexual activity and can be caused by several factors, including low testosterone levels. Sleep apnea can lead to a decrease in testosterone levels, leading to low libido.
- Premature ejaculation: Premature ejaculation is the inability to delay ejaculation during sexual activity, leading to unsatisfactory sexual experiences. Sleep apnea can cause a disruption in the normal sleep cycle, leading to fatigue and daytime sleepiness, which can make it difficult to engage in sexual activity and increase the risk of premature ejaculation.
- Delayed ejaculation: Delayed ejaculation is the inability to achieve ejaculation during sexual activity, leading to unsatisfactory sexual experiences. Sleep apnea can cause a decrease in testosterone levels, leading to delayed ejaculation.
- Decreased sexual satisfaction: Decreased sexual satisfaction is a common symptom of sleep apnea. The fatigue and daytime excessive sleepiness associated with sleep apnea can make it difficult for an individual to engage in sexual activity, leading to a decrease in sexual satisfaction. Additionally, sleep apnea can lead to erectile dysfunction and low libido, which can further decrease sexual satisfaction.
Furthermore, Sleep apnea can potentially have result in difficulty with intimacy and sexual relationships. This is because sleep apnea can cause daytime fatigue and irritability, which can reduce libido and sexual desire. Additionally, the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which is often used to treat sleep apnea, can also make intimacy more difficult.
Some people with sleep apnea may feel self-conscious about using a CPAP machine in front of their partner, or may find the machine noisy or uncomfortable. This can lead to anxiety and stress, which can further reduce sexual desire.
Managing Sleep Apnea and Sexual Health
Managing sleep apnea is crucial for maintaining sexual health and drive. The following are some steps individuals can take to manage sleep apnea and improve their sexual health:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy: CPAP therapy is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea. It involves wearing a mask over the nose and/or mouth while sleeping, which delivers a constant flow of air to keep the airway open helping any airway blockages. CPAP therapy can improve sleep quality and reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea, leading to an improvement in sexual health and drive.
Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and quitting smoking can help improve the symptoms of sleep apnea and improve sexual health.
Exercise: Regular exercise can improve sleep quality, reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea, and improve sexual health.
Sleep hygiene: Good sleep hygiene practices such as establishing a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine and electronics before bedtime, and creating a comfortable sleep environment can help improve the symptoms of sleep apnea and improve sexual health.
Medications Given to Those with Sexual Health Conditions and Sleep Apnea
There are several medications that can be given to individuals with sexual health conditions and sleep apnea, including:
- Testosterone replacement therapy can be given to individuals with low testosterone levels due to sleep apnea. It can improve sexual health and drive.
- Erectile dysfunction medications such as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil can be given to individuals with sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. These medications work by increasing blood supply or flow to the penis, allowing for an erection to occur.
- Premature ejaculation medications such as dapoxetine can be given to individuals with sleep apnea and premature ejaculation. These medications work by increasing serotonin levels, which can delay ejaculation.
- Anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines can be given to individuals with sleep apnea and anxiety-related sexual dysfunctions such as premature ejaculation or delayed ejaculation.
Complications with Untreated Sleep Apnea
- High blood pressure: Sleep apnea can cause a rise in blood pressure, which can increase the risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
- Type 2 diabetes: Sleep apnea can increase insulin resistance and lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.
- Depression: Sleep apnea can cause fatigue and daytime sleepiness, leading to an increased risk of depression.
- Cognitive impairment: Sleep apnea can cause cognitive impairment and increase the risk of developing dementia.
- Accidents: Sleep apnea can cause daytime sleepiness, which can increase the risk of accidents while driving or operating machinery.
Types of Sleep Apnea Treatment
There are several types of sleep apnea treatment available, depending on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. The following are some common types of sleep apnea treatment:
In addition to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy and Lifestyle changes, the following is also considered for Sleep Apnea treatment.
Oral appliances: Oral appliances can be used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. They are worn in the mouth like a sports mouthguard and help to keep the airway open by repositioning the jaw and tongue.
Surgery: Surgery may be recommended for severe cases of sleep apnea that do not respond to other treatments. Surgical options include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which involves removing excess tissue from the back of the throat, and maxillomandibular advancement (MMA), which involves moving the jaw forward to open the airway.
Conclusion
Sleep apnea can have a significant impact on sexual health and drive. The fatigue and daytime sleepiness associated with sleep apnea can make it difficult for individuals to engage in sexual activity, leading to a decrease in sexual satisfaction. Additionally, sleep apnea can cause several sexual dysfunctions, including erectile dysfunction, low libido, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, and reduced sexual satisfaction.
