Sleep Apnea's Effect on Your Sexual Life

Apnea is a serious sleep disorder that interrupts an individual’s sleep when the airway collapses and breathing is interrupted during sleep. Sufferers of sleep apnea stop breathing many times an hour – up to 100 times a night – and snoring is another side effect of the condition. A typical treatment of sleep apnea is to use a CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure) to help the sufferer breathe. The patient with sleep apnea wears a mask that covers their nose and/or mouth and the mask forces air through the upper airway. This treatment keeps the airway from collapsing while the patient is sleeping. Sleep apnea doesn't just interrupt sleep, however. It can also have a negative effect on a couple’s sex life. When you add in the fact that the effects could be long lasting in the form of erectile dysfunction, you will certainly want to have your sleep issues addressed by a professional. Having a sleep test to determine whether you have sleep apnea and if that is impacting your sex life can lead you toward a cure, whether that be a regime of Viagra or a breathing mask to address the issue. Seeking treatment for sleep apnea may help individuals see an improvement in their sexual performance as well as in their sleeping issues. Studies have shown that patients who received treatment for their sleep apnea for at least six hours per night were able to eliminate the need for daytime naps, daytime drowsiness and fatigue. Another positive side effect of getting a good night’s sleep is that the sufferer was able to get back into a more satisfying sex life. When you consider that with sleep apnea you could be waking up 20 to 30 times a night from being unable to take a breath, you can see how the disorder can negatively effect your life. If you snore, have a collar size of more than 17 inches, are male, and overweight, it might be time to be tested for sleep apnea. If you add in complaints of snoring along with lack of sexual performance you could be looking at needing to not only have a sleep study but also adding sexual performance issues. While medications and other methods can help with the impotence, with the treatment for sleep apnea many men find that their sexual issues clear up as well.