Ladies: you've been hammered in your head that men fall asleep spontaneously after sex, that it's the weakness of the stronger sex, that they can't help it but still love you and that you shouldn't take it badly.
Drop Glamour! They only tell you half the story. And not even the part that really concerns you. Because sex to learn how to fall asleep quickly is true - but not just any kind, and not only for men. During the act, certain things happen in the bodies of both men and women.
If you are at least somewhat engaged, making love and doing sports are basically the same thing. In any case, some key hormones are released whether you do one or the other:
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Endorphin
This "natural morphine" is an analgesic hormone. It lowers your sensitivity to pain and calms you, putting you in a favorable state for sleeping.
- Dopamine
It's the pleasure hormone that gives you that feeling of bliss when you have completed a task or gotten what you wanted. Dopamine is the key element of the reward system, a biological learning process essential for the survival of all mammals. If you satisfy a natural need of your body (thirst, hunger, sexual desire...), it rewards you with dopamine, which creates a feeling of well-being in you. Certain drugs like opioids or alcohol act directly on the reward system, which is at the heart of addiction problems.
But the hormones that make the difference thanks to sexual intercourse are these:
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Melatonin
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter your body produces during your romantic relationships. Thanks to it, your relationships last and are not limited to a quickie in the dark after coming home a bit tipsy from a party. It is a neurotransmitter synthesized by the pineal gland (a gland in your brain) to produce melatonin, another hormone that makes you sleepy!
- Prolactin
Prolactin, responsible for the satisfaction felt after a successful sexual encounter, is also a hormone that makes you sleepy. At least, that's what a 2010 study from Tokyo Medical University shows: rats injected with prolactin immediately showed signs of fatigue.
- Oxytocin
Oxytocin is released during orgasm. This opioid and the hormone of romantic and familial attachment... and therefore fidelity! Oxytocin is found exclusively in monogamous animals. It has many uses, but particularly has an anti-stress and anti-anxiety effect.
In reality, you don't need a partner, or even someone else, to benefit from these sleep-inducing hormones. Giving yourself orgasms alone has the same effect! But with a small caveat: a full sexual encounter releases 4 times more prolactin than a solo orgasm.
So, conclusion? Having sex as much as possible with anyone to accumulate the hormonal benefits of the two-legged beast? Well, not if you want to enjoy oxytocin and melatonin in the long term...
No worries for singles who want to reach top health, being in a couple is not a prerequisite for good sleep. If sex, love, and Tinder all bring little extras, happiness is above all a state of mind, and so is sleep.
And for those who still have a little trouble accessing it, there is Dodow to help you! ;)
On the same topic:
Fall asleep faster by changing your diet!
Do you watch TV before sleeping? Beware of screens!
Stay positive all day to open your mind to sleep!
Exercising until you're tired, that's a good solution for sleeping!
