Khaberni - Staying up late not only steals rest hours, but it also disrupts the entire body's rhythm. When sleep is disturbed, hormones, mood, and energy are affected, making the nervous system more sensitive to daily stresses. Then, simple situations between couples can turn into excitement or misunderstanding, not necessarily because the relationship is troubled, but because the body and mind did not get enough rest.
In this context, Dr. Mustafa Judeh, a clinical pharmacist at Juffair Hospital for Diagnosis and Treatment, explains that lack of sleep may affect hormonal balance, including the testosterone hormone associated with desire in both men and women. Deep sleep helps to increase levels of this hormone, while sleep disturbance can lead to its decrease, especially in those who have previous hormonal issues.
The matter does not stop at testosterone, as staying up late can lead to an increase in cortisol, which is supposed to decrease at night. With it remaining high, desire may decline and neurotransmitters linked to mood and the feeling of comfort, such as dopamine and serotonin, might be affected, resulting in emotional or sexual apathy or tension within the relationship.
A tired mood and more tense conversations
From hormones to mood, another equally important loop appears. Psychosocial consultant and researcher, Muhammad Kamal, believes that lack of sleep directly stresses the nervous system and can lead to poor concentration and increased irritability, especially in more emotionally prone individuals. With fatigue, a person becomes less tolerant and more prone to interpreting daily situations sharply.
This view aligns with a reference study published in PubMed Central by the National Center for Biotechnology Information titled "The role of sleep and its loss effects on cognitive performance and behavior during wakefulness," indicating that sleep loss affects attention, alertness, cognitive performance, and behavior during the day. In married life, a bad night's sleep could mean more tense conversations, quicker reactions, and less capacity for understanding.
Too much sleep is not always restful
However, the solution is not limitless prolonged sleep. Urologist Dr. Anwar Al-Nader points out that excessive sleep is not always a healthy indicator and can be linked to psychological or health problems, including depression, which may manifest as insomnia or excessive sleep. Muhammad Kamal agrees, noting that excessive sleep can increase feelings of isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness.
Therefore, the closer equation for balance is sleeping between 7 and 9 hours daily, with about 7 hours being suitable for many people, according to Dr. Anwar, provided that the focus is not only on the number. The quality of sleep and its deep stages are what truly give the nervous system a real chance to rebalance.
After the relationship.. Why does sleepiness come?
The marital relationship itself affects sleep from a different angle. After the relationship, many feel calmness or sleepiness, which Dr. Anwar explains by noting the relationship often happens at night, when the body is primed for sleep, and that the tension which may precede it dissipates afterwards, causing muscle and psychological relaxation alongside physical effort.
This is supported by a recent study published by the journal Sleep Health, which found that sexual activity before sleep is linked to improved sleep efficiency and reduced wakefulness afterwards. It also noted that sleeping beside a partner independently affects sleep as the duration of the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phase increased between partners when they slept together, regardless of whether sexual activity occurred or not. This means that physical closeness and feeling secure can reflect on the sleep pattern, even outside direct sexual contact.
Organizing the day before organizing the bed
From here, improving sleep does not start just from the bed, but from the entire day. Muhammad Kamal links regular sleep with calmer family relationships, as early waking and early sleeping provide the nervous system a chance to rest and make the mood more balanced. Moreover, organizing the day between work or study, rest, and family activities reduces emptiness, tension, and excessive use of phones and social media.
The small details here are impactful: quiet time with a life partner, conversation without phones, spending time with children, or simple outings that can bring warmth back to the relationship. These matters do not treat sleep disorders alone, but they create a less stressful environment and are more conducive to rest and communication.
Cause before medication
When issues of desire or sexual performance arise, asking about the cause is more important than a quick search for medication. On this, Dr. Mustafa Judeh says that erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation may be linked to psychological, physical, or lifestyle factors, including lack of sleep and stress.
Premature ejaculation may be a separate issue, linked to erectile dysfunction, or an indicator of thyroid disorder or prostate inflammation, while erectile dysfunction may be connected to poor blood flow or artery issues.
While medications are important in many cases, their use needs assessment. Medications for erectile dysfunction are generally taken an hour or two before the relationship, and the effects of some can last approximately 36 hours, while others last about four hours.
When can medications become a danger?
The issue becomes more dangerous when there are also heart medications involved. Combining erectile dysfunction medications and nitrates like nitroglycerin or isosorbide can cause a serious drop in blood pressure.
According to an educational article by the British Heart Foundation, combining nitrates like GTN and PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil "Viagra" and tadalafil "Cialis," can lead to severe low blood pressure.
Hijama as a supportive option
In the path of supportive treatments, general physician and cupping specialist at Elite Medical Center, Dr. Mustafa Adous, sees stress and sleep disorders as a vicious cycle; lack of sleep raises cortisol, disrupts the biological clock, and affects energy and mood.
Some complementary treatments such as cupping can help with relaxation by stimulating blood circulation, reducing inflammatory markers, and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for calmness.
However, cupping remains a complementary choice and not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment, especially if sleep disorders or relationship problems are recurring or accompanied by clear psychological or physical symptoms.
Good sleep is the beginning of treatment
The marital relationship is inseparable from the rhythm of daily life. Regular sleep, reducing staying up late, avoiding the phone before bed, organizing the day, and scheduling quiet time with the partner are all steps that can restore balance to the body and mood.
When the problem persists, medical evaluation becomes necessary to understand the real cause, rather than using medications that may not address the root of the issue, or might become a danger when used without supervision.
