Having sex before bed cuts the time it takes to fall asleep by a fifth (but masturbation doesn’t!).
Sex can do wonders for a rocky relationship, but it can also be the key to a great night’s sleep.
A study in the Netherlands found that having sex before bed reduced the time it took men and women to fall asleep by a fifth and improved sleep quality.
But it was only in one case that someone experienced an orgasm, making men likely to reap the benefits of pre-leap sex.
Unfortunately for women and singles, research suggests that climaxing through masturbation does not affect sleep.
Endorphins released during sex can have a relaxing effect that can make someone fall asleep faster, scientists say.
Orgasms before bed, with a partner or on your own, can help you fall asleep faster and feel better rested the next day, scientists say (stock image).
For the study, researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands recruited undergraduates aged around 22.
Each was asked to fill out a survey measuring the time it took them to fall asleep — or sleep latency — and how rested they felt after waking up.
The survey also asked them about their sexual activity and masturbation in the 24 hours before bed, and whether they had orgasmed.
They were also asked about alcohol intake – which can affect sleep – and were asked if they were insomniacs.
They excluded participants who took antidepressants or hard drugs such as cocaine, MDMA or shrooms.
The results showed that participants who partnered sex and orgasmed took about 16 minutes to fall asleep, on average.
By comparison, those who went to bed normally took 21 minutes to fall asleep – which was five minutes or 23 per cent longer.
Participants who said they masturbated took an average of 26 minutes to fall asleep, or 20 minutes after it triggered an orgasm.
But that was comparable to nights when there was no sexual activity when it took them 21 minutes to fall asleep.
The researchers also found that participants who had sex with a partner and had orgasms were more likely to report higher quality sleep.
This was not the case for those who masturbated or masturbated and orgasmed, but there was no difference in sleep quality between them and those who went to bed normally.
Scientists have suggested that the benefits of sleep may only apply to people who experience orgasms due to increased hormone levels.
Studies have shown that levels of the hormone prolactin – associated with sleep – increase by up to 400 percent during partnered sex.
The study was published this year in the Journal of Sleep Research.
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