Not Sleeping? This Might Be What's Keeping You Up (Really)
(Photo: John Dolan)
If you find yourself tossing and turning during the middle of the night, trying over and over again to get to sleep, there might be a simple solution: sex.
Mache Seibel, M.D., the editor of My Menopause Magazine and professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School, says that sex is the “oldest tranquilizer in the world.” “The more sex you have, the more sleep you’ll get,” he says. “Sleep comes naturally when both body and mind are relaxed and free of stress. Once you’re rested and focusing on the pleasure of the moment, you’ll be hard pressed to keep thinking about all those random thoughts that were keeping your brain too active to fall asleep.”
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Seibel adds: “During sexual activity, the oxytocin released with hugging, stimulation, and orgasm can increase feelings of calm and safety and cortisol levels drop; both are prerequisites for optimizing sleep. During orgasm, there is also an increased release of prolactin, which gives a heavy somnolence, helping you fall asleep faster and more efficiently.”
Seibel says to remember “S.O.S.” as a prescription for snoozing: stress, orgasm, sleep. Here are some of his sex-to-sleep tips:
1: Take a warm bath. “The hot bath is a muscle relaxant and dilates blood vessels,” Seibel says. “It is also a quiet time to gain focus and be present. Add an aromatherapy candle such as lilac or your favorite scent and the mood is enhanced.”
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2: Avoid alcohol and large meals late in the evening. While small amounts of alcohol can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable, Seibel says that even a few drinks can reduce sexual response and arousal, making sex difficult to impossible. “For some it will also involve engaging in risky sexual behavior,” he says.
3: If you’ve found yourself avoiding sex because of dryness and discomfort, Seibel recommends silicone lubricants (like Replens Silky Smooth) or a moisturizer (Replens Moisturizer).
4: “Strong pelvic floor muscles can improve sexual desire and achievement of a better orgasm,” Seibel says. Doing two to three sets of Kegel exercises—with 10 reps in each set—can help, with results in two to four weeks.
And there you go! What do you think?
By Lexi Petronis
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