Turns out, getting a good night’s sleep might be a lot more fun than you think

It turns out that there’s a solid scientific reason why people tend to sleep better after having sex, according to recent research.

Getting a full eight hours of restful sleep each night is not as easy as it sounds. Our sleep patterns are often disrupted by things like stress, raising kids, dealing with health problems, or even the types of food we eat.

We all know that it’s smart to avoid caffeine before bed. And if you’re someone who takes sleep optimization seriously—known as 'sleepmaxxing'—you might have a whole routine involving eating kiwis, wrapping up your face, and banning all gadgets to keep the room calm and quiet.

But what if there was a much simpler—and honestly, much more enjoyable—way to fall asleep easily and wake up refreshed?

Couples apparently have better sleep after doing the deedGetty Images

If you've ever gotten intimate before bed and then drifted off into a deep, satisfying sleep, you’re definitely not the only one. And now, science can actually explain why that happens.

In a new study published in the journal Sleep Health, researchers discovered that engaging in sexual activity, either by yourself or with a partner, can significantly improve your sleep quality.

They found that sexual intimacy doesn’t just help people fall asleep more quickly. It also reduces how often they wake up during the night and makes the overall sleep experience feel more restful.

Michele Lastella, the lead author of the study and a senior lecturer at CQUniversity Australia, explained: "I have been investigating sleep behaviors in the adult population for several years, while this has predominantly focused on improving the sleep behaviors of elite athletes, I am always asked various questions about sleep."

"A frequent question asked 'how come my partner falls asleep straight away after sex and I can't' and I thought if people are frequently asking me questions about this, then this must be indicative that there is a real lack of research evidence around it."

It all depends on one thing thoughGetty Images

However, the sleep benefits only kicked in after the participants reached orgasm.

The study involved seven heterosexual couples living in South Australia. These couples were all around 26 years old, healthy, sexually active, and living together under the same roof.

Before they took part in the research, all 14 participants were carefully screened. This was done to ensure they didn’t have any existing sleep disorders, weren’t expecting a baby, and didn’t already have children—since any of those factors could seriously disrupt sleep patterns.

The couples taking part reported having sex at least two times per week. They were observed over an 11-night period, with each night involving a specific activity or restriction.

On one night, they were told not to engage in any kind of sexual activity. On other nights, they were instructed either to masturbate on their own or to have sex with their partner, with both scenarios requiring them to climax.

They also kept a sleep and mood diary throughout the study. At the same time, a special headband called DREEM3—a wireless polysomnographic device—was used to track their brain activity, movements, and breathing while they slept.

The study stresses the importance of reaching an orgasm for a good sleepGetty Images

The researchers found that while the participants tended to go to bed later on the nights they had sex, they actually spent less time lying awake—by about seven minutes—compared to nights without sexual activity.

Interestingly, even though their sleep patterns were clearly affected, the participants themselves didn’t really notice any difference in how they slept on the different nights. However, they did say they felt more energized and motivated the next day after having sex with their partner.

The researchers explained that the reason sex might help improve sleep comes down to changes in the body’s hormones. Specifically, there’s a boost in oxytocin levels and a drop in cortisol that follows an orgasm, both of which are known to encourage relaxation and sleep.