Having Sex Before Going to Sleep Can Promote Better Rest

If you’re struggling to fall asleep, it might be worth giving your partner a gentle nudge—or checking the nightstand drawer. A recent study confirms what many already suspected: engaging in sexual activity right before bedtime can lead to better sleep.

Researchers from Central Queensland University and Flinders University in Australia tracked the sleep patterns of seven heterosexual couples over 11 consecutive nights. Each evening, couples rotated among three bedtime routines: solo masturbation, partnered sex, or no sexual activity.

Daily Logs and Sleep-Tracking Technology Reveal Patterns

Participants filled out daily surveys about their sexual experiences and sleep, while their sleep quality was also monitored objectively using polysomnography headsets that recorded brain waves, physical movement, and breathing patterns.

Nighttime Sex Linked to Better Sleep, Confirmed by Data

As expected, participants who engaged in sexual activity tended to delay their bedtime by up to 30 minutes. However, this was balanced out by better sleep efficiency and less time spent awake during the night. And these findings weren’t just based on self-reports—they were backed by data from the sleep-monitoring headsets.

Participants also reported feeling more ready and motivated the following day. On a 100-point scale, motivation levels increased by about 5 points after solo activity and by 11 points following partnered sex.

Sleep Timing Unaffected, But Study Size Limits Findings

There weren’t noticeable changes in how quickly participants fell asleep or in the total duration of their sleep. However, lead researcher Michele Lastella, a sleep and sports scientist from Central Queensland University, believes the small sample size may have limited the results.

The need to put on a headset and launch a phone app right after sexual activity may also have reduced the relaxing effects, the researchers noted.

To explore the true clinical impact, the team recommends future studies with more participants, greater diversity in sexual orientation, and the inclusion of individuals with sleep issues, health conditions, and a wider age range.

Chances are, they won’t struggle to recruit volunteers.

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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