Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSleep Disorders and TestosteroneSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Sleep Disorders and Testosterone
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Some conditions, likesleep apnea, can take a toll on the hormonal balances in your body, leading to problems includingerectile dysfunction. In this article, we’ll discuss why this happens and what you can do about it.
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Sleep plays an important role in your overall physical and mental health. While you sleep, tissues grow and are replenished, and balance is achieved.Sleep deprivationcan alter the brain, causing a cascade of problems.
Numerous studies have linked healthy sleep to healthy sex. While sleep deprivation can cause mood and relationship problems, the bigger issue is howsleep disorderscan affect the production of hormones liketestosterone. Sleep disorders are a leading cause of sexual problems.
Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing when you are sleeping. When this happens, it may disturb you enough to wake you up completely, but your sleep is usually disturbed whether you fully wake up or not. Testosterone production rises when you fall asleep and peaks duringrapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Research points to the fragmented sleep of people who suffer from sleep apnea as being a contributor to sexual problems like erectile dysfunction.
Around 4% of men ages 30–60 experience erectile dysfunction.Erectile dysfunction is more common in men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) than those without OSA.
What Is Sleep Hygiene?
Sleep is especially important as we age since it becomes more difficult for many people to fall asleep and stay asleep. Sincepoor sleepcontributes to a number of problems, including erectile dysfunction, it’s important to understand what you can do to promote a good night’s sleep.
A good night’s sleep can improve your health in many ways, but for men, it can be particularly helpful. Testosterone levels can fluctuate throughout the day and with weight changes, but these levels can also drop naturally with age. Poor sleep and medical problems like sleep apnea may just make the problem even worse.
The 10 Worst Habits That Ruin Sleep and Cause Insomnia
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which your breathing is interrupted while you sleep. This can happen withobstructive sleep apneaor a problem with your central nervous system’s signals (central sleep apnea).
Symptoms can vary based on the severity of your sleep apnea and what type you have, but generally include:
Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction
The symptoms of erectile dysfunction are generally straightforward. It’s important to note that erectile dysfunction is more often a sign of other problems rather than an isolated issue.
Common symptoms include:
Causes of Sleep Apnea
The top causes of sleep apnea are obesity and structural obstructions in the throat or nose.The main cause of OSA is obesity, and it is modifiable.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are a number of things that can cause erectile dysfunction. Like sleep apnea, obesity can be a major contributor to erectile dysfunction. Other causes include:
Sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction are two very different but closely related conditions. Diagnosis for each can involve different blood and clinical tests, but each will start with a discussion with a healthcare professional. If you are experiencing symptoms of either condition, talk to your healthcare provider.
You may be asked questions about your personal, family, and sexual health histories. Beyond that, blood testing may be used to examine the chemical balances in your body. For sleep apnea, your doctor may ordersleep studies,while diagnosis for erectile dysfunction is based on tests that examine anatomy and function. This can include X-rays and other imaging studies.
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An accurate diagnosis is the first step toward creating a good treatment plan. If you are diagnosed with erectile dysfunction but continue to have undiagnosed sleep apnea, you may not see much improvement from yourerectile dysfunction treatment. In fact, you could begin to experience a number of other issues from untreated sleep apnea, including:
Sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction each has specific treatments, but maintaining a healthy weight and diet can help both. Beyond that, there are a number ofmedications and devices that can help treat erectile dysfunction, while continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)—which uses a hose and mask to delivery steady air pressure while you sleep—is the primary treatment for sleep apnea.
While CPAP doesn’t treat erectile dysfunction orlow testosteronedirectly, these machines have been linked to an improvement in erectile dysfunction in some people.
If you have an anatomical problem that has led to the development of either sleep apnea or erectile dysfunction, there isn’t much you can do to prevent these conditions. However, when these conditions develop over time, lifestyle choices play a major role.
Making sure that you exercise regularly and consume a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight can help prevent both sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction, since both are linked to obesity.
Summary
Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing while you sleep. It not only can disrupt sleep but also affect testosterone production, which can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Sleep apnea is commonly treated with CPAP, which can help you breathe while you sleep. Research has shown that it may also help with erectile dysfunction.
A Word From Verywell
Sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction are two very different conditions, but the occurrence of the two conditions at the same time in people indicate there is some link. Men with sleep apnea have higher rates of erectile dysfunction, and there are a few explanations for why this can happen. Obesity is one reason, and the impact of sleep deficits on testosterone production is another.
If you are struggling with sleep or with your sexual health, talk to your doctor about ways to improve your sleep quality and address any other conditions that may be contributing to the problem.
What is the link between testosterone and sleep?
Why does lack of sleep cause erectile dysfunction?
As hormone levels drop, testosterone—the male sex hormone—can decrease. Low levels of testosterone are a primary contributor to erectile problems. Lack of sleep can also lead to sexual health problems stemming from mood disturbances or relationship problems.
Do CPAP machines help with low testosterone?
CPAP machines have not been shown to have an effect on hormone levels like testosterone—at least not directly. What these devices can do is treat sleep apnea and improve sleep quality, which, in turn, can boost hormone levels.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction.Cho JW, Duffy JF.Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Sexual Dysfunction.World J Mens Health. August 14, 2018;37(3):261-275. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180045Kim SD, Cho KS.Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency.World J Mens Health. May 16, 2018;37(1):12-18. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180017Taken K, Ekin S, Arısoy A, Günes M, Dönmez Mİ.Erectile dysfunction is a marker for obstructive sleep apnea.Aging Male.October 25, 2015;19(2):102-5. doi: 10.3109/13685538.2015.1131259.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in sleep.Cleveland Clinic.Low testosterone. Updated April 10, 2018.Cleveland Clinic.Sleep apnea.Cleveland Clinic.Erectile dysfunction.Cignarelli A, et al.Effects of CPAP on testosterone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis study.Front Endocrinol.August 21, 2019;10(551). doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00551
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction.Cho JW, Duffy JF.Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Sexual Dysfunction.World J Mens Health. August 14, 2018;37(3):261-275. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180045Kim SD, Cho KS.Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency.World J Mens Health. May 16, 2018;37(1):12-18. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180017Taken K, Ekin S, Arısoy A, Günes M, Dönmez Mİ.Erectile dysfunction is a marker for obstructive sleep apnea.Aging Male.October 25, 2015;19(2):102-5. doi: 10.3109/13685538.2015.1131259.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in sleep.Cleveland Clinic.Low testosterone. Updated April 10, 2018.Cleveland Clinic.Sleep apnea.Cleveland Clinic.Erectile dysfunction.Cignarelli A, et al.Effects of CPAP on testosterone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis study.Front Endocrinol.August 21, 2019;10(551). doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00551
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction.Cho JW, Duffy JF.Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Sexual Dysfunction.World J Mens Health. August 14, 2018;37(3):261-275. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180045Kim SD, Cho KS.Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency.World J Mens Health. May 16, 2018;37(1):12-18. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180017Taken K, Ekin S, Arısoy A, Günes M, Dönmez Mİ.Erectile dysfunction is a marker for obstructive sleep apnea.Aging Male.October 25, 2015;19(2):102-5. doi: 10.3109/13685538.2015.1131259.MedlinePlus.Aging changes in sleep.Cleveland Clinic.Low testosterone. Updated April 10, 2018.Cleveland Clinic.Sleep apnea.Cleveland Clinic.Erectile dysfunction.Cignarelli A, et al.Effects of CPAP on testosterone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis study.Front Endocrinol.August 21, 2019;10(551). doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00551
National Institutes of Health.Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction.
Cho JW, Duffy JF.Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Sexual Dysfunction.World J Mens Health. August 14, 2018;37(3):261-275. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180045
Kim SD, Cho KS.Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Testosterone Deficiency.World J Mens Health. May 16, 2018;37(1):12-18. doi:10.5534/wjmh.180017
Taken K, Ekin S, Arısoy A, Günes M, Dönmez Mİ.Erectile dysfunction is a marker for obstructive sleep apnea.Aging Male.October 25, 2015;19(2):102-5. doi: 10.3109/13685538.2015.1131259.
MedlinePlus.Aging changes in sleep.
Cleveland Clinic.Low testosterone. Updated April 10, 2018.
Cleveland Clinic.Sleep apnea.
Cleveland Clinic.Erectile dysfunction.
Cignarelli A, et al.Effects of CPAP on testosterone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis study.Front Endocrinol.August 21, 2019;10(551). doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00551
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