I’ve had trouble falling asleep before. But instead of heating up a nice cup of sleepy-time tea, doing some light stretches, or trying some breathing techniques, my first instinct is to reach into my bedside drawer and pull out one of my vibrators. And no, it’s not because sleep deprivation makes me horny — I just know that if anything is going to knock me out, it’s probably going to be an orgasm.
Everyone’s body is different, and so I thought using masturbation as a sleep trick was something unique to me. But in talking to my friends, I learned that it’s pretty common — and it’s because there’s some science behind it.
Can Masturbation Help You Fall Asleep?
“Masturbation releases a mix of feel-good hormones, which include dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, promoting relaxation and reducing stress,” Dr. Sham Singh, sleep expert and psychiatrist, tells Betches. “What’s more, after having an orgasm, the body also secretes prolactin, or the hormone responsible for the refractory period and the quiet sensation, which can be so helpful in falling asleep.”
He explains that for some people, masturbation is also a stress reliever, both physical and emotional. And that it’s this very stress that can be keeping people up at night.
If you’re a fellow anxious girlie, it can be hard to shut your mind off at the end of the day. You might be worried about some things you didn’t end up checking off your list or overanalyzing an interaction you had earlier that day. And as much as you’d like to just tell your brain to “STFU” and go to bed, it doesn’t come easy. This is when masturbating before bed could be a huge help.
When it comes to the quality of sleep you’re actually getting, that really just depends on you. Dr. Singh explains that masturbation before bed can definitely help someone fall asleep, but it doesn’t necessarily improve the quality or depth of their sleep cycle. This isn’t to say that it won’t help at all, but everyone is different.
“For some individuals, regular stress reduction before bed can indirectly improve sleep quality over time,” he says. And if masturbating in bed becomes your stress-relieving ritual, you might just end up getting a really good night’s sleep.
What About Sex Before Bed?
Now you’re probably thinking, “If masturbation can help you fall asleep, sex can too,” — and you wouldn’t be wrong. Dr. Singh explains that they’re pretty similar in terms of the hormones they release, resulting in you falling asleep easier. But actual partnered sex involves other factors that make it different. Things like physical exercise and emotional closeness all affect your body, too.
“Feelings of being soothed and satisfaction increase due to shared oxytocin from physical contact can produce an even more deep feeling of tranquillity,” Dr. Singh says. So, if you have the option to have sex before bed, I say go for it. Not only will you have a great time, but odds are you’ll probably also fall asleep faster. I mean, in the words of Nicki Minaj: “Pussy put his ass to sleep, now he calling me Nyquill.”
