Let’s Go to Bed: How Good (and Bad) Sleep Can Affect Your Sex Life

Illustration by Tom Jellett

Illustration by Tom Jellett ·

“More sleep, more sex; more sex, more sleep.” In partnership with Koala, we talk to sleep scientist Dr Michele Lastella about improving your time in bed.

When Koala wants the science behind a precision-engineered sleep, it turns to Dr Michele Lastella. He’s the Aussie furniture label’s resident sleep doctor. “Whenever Koala needs a little bit of expertise, they ask me for help or clarity, or just to be in touch with the latest sleep research,” he tells Broadsheet.

Of course, our bedrooms are not just for catching shut-eye. Most Koala Plus mattresses will see some action between the sheets, and it turns out sleep and sex are closely related. (And good for you.)

“Sleep affects our immune system, our reaction times, mood, cardiovascular health, mental health – and these all impact sex,” Lastella says. “

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“It’s important to prioritise sleep for health, then we’ve also seen studies that suggest engaging in sexual activity has positive knock-on effects for physical and mental wellbeing, nutrition, cardiovascular health, even immune function and life expectancy.”

The good news is, when you get into the right rhythm, everything comes together: “More sleep, more sex; more sex, more sleep.”

Lastella points to a study suggesting a good night’s sleep makes you more likely to get sexy. “It was all women in this study, but participants who slept an hour longer were 14 per cent more likely to engage in sexual activity the following day,” he says.

“To make the most of the positive effects sex can have on your sleep, it’s also key to turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary. Keep it cool, dark, quiet, with a mattress and bedding comfortable for you,.” Lastella adds. Choose a mattress that’s both comfortable and has cooling qualities, like the Koala Plus.

Meanwhile, bad sleep can rob us of the desire to have sex. Another study testing the impact of different amounts of sleep showed that people who slept between three and five hours a night saw their vigour gradually decline over the span of a week.

We know it’s important for couples to be sexually compatible, and sleep compatibility has a part to play, too. According to Lastella, “chronotype matching” – someone who’s a morning or a night person matching with someone similar – can have an impact on sex.

“One study we conducted with 30 couples suggested that when people are in a matched relationship they have more sex, sleep better, and are more satisfied,” he says. But if you’re a night owl shacked up with an early bird, don’t worry. “Most people are ‘intermediate’, so it’s not that hard to pull one way or the other and adapt.”

No matter if bedtime is early or late, Lastella says climaxes count. In fact, he points to three different studies (including one led by him) linking orgasms to a good night’s rest.

“There seems to be a connection between the positive neurochemical effects of an orgasm, falling asleep more easily and having better quality of sleep. And across all three studies there was no significant difference between genders.

“Even if, anecdotally, someone may say that their husband always falls asleep straight after sex while they struggle to get to sleep, it probably has more to do with the ‘orgasm gap’” – the disparity in orgasm frequency between men and women – “than anything chemical or biological in cis men and women.”

But it can’t be fireworks all night long. Cuddling and hanging out in bed deserves more time (and study) according to Lastella. “It’s anecdotal, but most people would say having non-goal time in bed is important for intimacy because then they get the uninterrupted time with their partner. I’ve always thought if you and your partner sleep in and lay in bed, or time in bed is extended … I want to research whether you’re more likely to engage in sexual activity.”

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Koala.

Produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Koala

Produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Koala
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