If you’ve heard of sleep apnea, you’re probably aware that CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure therapy) is the most effective treatment. When used regularly, CPAP is a very effective treatment for sleep apnea. One of the difficulties with CPAP therapy is that once prescribed, most people do not use it on a daily basis, if at all.
What are some of the most common grievances? With its prominent headpiece, the CPAP is a romance killer, a distinctly unsexy presence in the bedroom.
CPAP Is Good for Sex
Before you (or your bedmate) put that CPAP in the closet to gather dust, consider this: according to a recent report, CPAP can potentially help men with sleep apnea improve their sex lives, rather than becoming a hindrance.
CPAP therapy includes sleeping with a machine with a headpiece that continuously forces air into the airway, stopping it from collapsing. The characteristic of sleep apnea is a repeatedly collapsing airway, which results in a temporary halt in breathing and oxygen deprivation. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common sleep disorders, affecting over 18 million people in the United States.
We know that this is a sleep condition that is greatly under-diagnosed, but the true number is actually much higher. Sleep apnea is related to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and obesity, all of which are serious health threats.
In addition to these significant health consequences, OSA may have a negative impact on a person’s sexual life. Sleep apnea has been linked to an increased risk of sexual dysfunction in both men and women, according to research. Furthermore, an individual with OSA’s disturbed, restless, and sometimes noisy sleep—which can include loud snoring—can force sleeping partners to separate beds. It’s not conducive to intimacy.
The men were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months after starting CPAP therapy. They discovered that as CPAP therapy progressed, both of the men’s erectile function and libido improved. The men who were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction at the start of the study saw the greatest change in their sexual function and desire.
Since using the CPAP to cure their sleep apnea, even men without ED saw changes in their libido and sexual function.
This is the most recent additional advantage of CPAP therapy to be discovered—that is, in addition to effectively treating sleep apnea. We recently learned that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can help to reduce pain sensitivity. People with disturbed and chronically inadequate sleep are more susceptible to minor aches and pains, as well as persistent pain from conditions like fibromyalgia.
The secret to obtaining these additional benefits, as well as to restoring your sleep, maintaining your health, and enhancing your sexual life? Consistently use CPAP. We know that getting support from friends and family will help CPAP users stick to their therapy.
Couples who embrace a teamwork mentality—and an optimistic, responsive attitude toward the presence of the system in the bedroom—may be rewarded with not only better sleep, but also a revitalized sex life. Are there any other ways to make the CPAP work in the bedroom?
Expect a time of transition. There’s no denying that the device needs some time to get used to for some—if not the majority—of citizens. Accept it right away, and don’t give up! There’s proof that short-term use of prescription sleep aids can help CPAP users adapt to the first few weeks of therapy, so talk to your doctor about it if you’re having trouble adjusting.
Continue to sleep in the same bed. Bedmates may become estranged due to snoring and sleep apnea. Don’t let this highly successful sleep disorder treatment lock you and your partner in separate beds.
Believe me when I say that the CPAP would be much louder than the snoring. Furthermore, studies have shown that husbands whose wives prefer to sleep in the same bed with them are much more likely to use CPAP.
A few words on gender. Men aren’t the only ones that suffer from sexual issues as a result of sleep apnea. OSA affects both men and women’s sexual function and appetite. The effects of sleep apnea, as well as other sleep disorders, on women’s sexual lives are still understudied.
We’ve seen studies that indicate women with sleep apnea are much more likely to have sexual problems than women who don’t have OSA. I’m hoping for more research into the potential role of CPAP in enhancing women’s sexual lives.
But it doesn’t take away from the fact that this new report has some really good news for men—and their wives. Keeping up with your CPAP routine will help you sleep better and improve your sex life and relationship.
It is just a case of loud snoring – While not the whole description of Sleep Apnea, snoring is a component of it. Left untreated conditions may have negative effects on health, including an increased risk of heart issues and exhaustion, which can lead to irritability and lack of attention.
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