There is no single, definitive scientific explanation for this age-old conundrum. But if you think about it long enough, the sex–sleep connection makes sense, particularly when you consider that many men have their first orgasms while unconscious. Wet dreams, nocturnal tumescence, morning erections…When all is said and done, we may not be much better than praying mantises: The males keep copulating even after they're decapitated by their lovers.
After orgasm, both men and women release the chemicals oxytocin, prolactin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), and endorphins. Each of these contributes to that roll-over-and-snore feeling. The hormone oxytocin is known to have several effects, including establishment of maternal behavior, stimulation of uterine smooth-muscle contraction at birth, and stimulation of milk ejection (milk letdown). It is also referred to as the "cuddling hormone" because it tends to elicit the need to be close and bond. In one study, oxytocin was shown to inhibit male sexual behavior in prairie voles. Maybe it's the oxytocin that makes us feel satiated and rested.
Prolactin is another player in the sex/sleep saga. It is produced in the pituitary gland, and its best-known function is the stimulation of milk production. Prolactin is believed to relieve sexual arousal after orgasm and take your mind off sex. Levels of prolactin rise during sleep, and some patients with prolactin-secreting tumors report sleepiness. So prolactin seems like it may be a culprit.
GABA and endorphins also both have a calming effect and may make you pass out after sex. So why does the postcoital snooze seem to be so much more a man thing?
This may come as quite a shock to some of you self-annointed Don Juans, but whereas men are known to ejaculate in various semicomatose states, such as during prostate exams and while thumbing through dog-eared issues of National Geographic magazine, women—believe it or not!—don't always have orgasms during sex, and that keeps them from producing all those other hormones. So, if performance is a problem, don't miss our five easy ways to make sex last (much) longer.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
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If you are wondering why men fall asleep so soon after having sex, here is the scientific reason behind their immediate snoozing.
Terri-Ann Williams and The Sun
Orgasms can be an absolute joy, but sometimes strange things can happen to people after they have blown their load.
Picture this, you’ve just had a great session beneath the sheets and then you hear a snoring sound.
If this is familiar then you’re not alone as many men fall asleep after having sex.
But before you start berating your boyfriend for his bedside manner, there is actually a scientific reason for his immediate snoozing.
In both men and women sexual stimulation has been proven to boost brain activity.
When we have sex we tend to be relaxed and in turn, we release a lot of stress and anxiety that may have been building up throughout the day.
Research using positron emission tomography (PET) scans has previously proven this – and it’s known that when we are relaxed and have released stress, it’s easier to fall to sleep.
But when looking at why men seem to fall asleep faster, it’s actually due to a cocktail of chemicals released when they ejaculate.
Men tend to fall asleep faster after sex due to the chemicals released when they ejaculate. Picture: Getty
These include norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, vasopressin, nitric oxide (NO), and the hormone prolactin.
It’s the release of prolactin that makes a particular difference as this is linked to the feeling of sexual satisfaction, experts say.
It also help mediate the recovery time, in other words, how long a man has to wait before going in for round two.
Men deficient in this hormone can sometimes also have faster recovery times.
Experts at New York University’s science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program explained: “Prolactin levels are naturally higher during sleep, and animals injected with the chemical become tired immediately.
“This suggests a strong link between prolactin and sleep, so it’s likely that the hormone’s release during orgasm causes men to feel sleepy.
“Prolactin also explains why men are sleepier after intercourse than after masturbation.
“For unknown reasons, intercourse orgasms release four times more prolactin than masturbatory orgasms”.
Men who are deficient in prolactin can have faster recovery times. Picture: Matthew Munro
Improved sleep
Two other chemicals released during sex include oxytocin and vasopressin.
The release of them usually accompanies melatonin – which regulates our body clocks.
Oxytocin has also been proven to reduce stress levels which could lead to sleepiness and relaxation.
Max Kirsten resident sleep expert at Innermost Innermost and The Sleep Coach said having sex also actually improves our sleep quality after the event.
He explained: “We release an important intimacy hormone called oxytocin, which naturally reduces our stress cortisol levels dramatically.
“Having an orgasm will help you fall asleep because it releases the hormone prolactin that makes you feel relaxed and very sleepy.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.
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This article was written by Cassie Shortsleeve and provided by our partners at Men’s Health.
Ever wonder what it is about sex that makes men want to pass out immediately afterwards? Yeah, we feel you.
To find out why the hell dudes can go from doing the humpty dance to assuming the horizontal position, we asked the experts, "What's up with that?"
More From Women's Health
You can thank the hormone prolactin for that male post-coital sleepiness, says Men’s Health sleep advisor W. Christopher Winter, M.D. Prolactin suppresses dopamine—a stimulating neurotransmitter that makes you feel awake, he explains. And his body releases it in spades when he splooges. Your body, however, doesn’t produce nearly as much, says Winter.
The “feel-good” hormone oxytocin also surges during sex, which helps squash any stressful thoughts from his mind and makes it easier for him to relax and fall asleep afterward. And (fun fact) if you have sex with the lights out, it signals to your body’s internal clock that it’s time for bed. When that happens, the hormone melatonin ignites his sleep cycle.
When prolactin, oxytocin, and melatonin all come together, it's basically the natural version of any serious sleeping pill—and he's in for a fantastic snooze. While that's great for him, if you've got stuff to do, like cuddle, run errands, or really anything that's not sleeping, hanging with a zombie S.O. isn't ideal.
To keep your post-sex time from looking like Weekend at Bernie's, make sure you pick a sex position that’s not horizontal, says Winter. Sure, it obvious, but lying on your back signals to your body that it’s time to sleep.
Another way to fight his sex coma: Do it with the lights on. That way, he won’t kick-start his sleep cycle, he says.
Winter's final tip is to get out of bed once you’re finished. Over your lifetime, your brain has come to associate the bed as a location for dozing. So it'll be nearly impossible for him to fight the urge to hit the hay if you just lie there quietly. So maybe move the snuggle party to the couch.
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