The Science Behind Why Men Always Fall Asleep After Sex
Spoiler alert: It's not a negative sign of your relationship.
According to Human Sexuality author and psychologist Roger R. Hock, it’s common (and normal!) for both men and women to feel relaxed and sleepy after sex. So if your partner nods off right after you do it, it doesn’t mean your relationship isn’t strong or he doesn’t love you. On the contrary, his Zs are probably a sign of satisfaction.
Men fall asleep after sex for several reasons—none of which are related to your relationship or performance in bed. Here are a few of those reasons, plus, what to do about it.
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His body changes
“A man’s body chemistry changes after orgasm,” says David McKenzie, a sex therapist in Vancouver. “The biochemical prolactin is released, physically altering his body and making him very tired.” In contrast, women may not orgasm every time they have sex. So, you may still be semi-aroused and have the energy to talk about love and life while he’s drifting off to dreamland.
Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg, M.D., authors of Why Do Men Fall Asleep After Sex?, offer an additional biological explanation: “It is thought that exertion during sex and after climax depletes the muscles of energy-producing glycogen. This leaves men feeling sleepy. Since men have more muscle mass than women, men become more tired after sex.”
Leyner and Goldberg state that there is little direct evidence to explain men falling asleep, though, after orgasm, the chemicals oxytocin, prolactin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and endorphins all contribute to that “roll over and snore” feeling. These chemicals and endorphins are part of what happens to your brain when you have sex.
He’s lost that spiritual feeling
Tantric sex focuses on the enlightening, spiritual aspects of sex. The merging of two bodies is a sacred act that increases awareness by channeling energy and lifting the couple to a different plane. Sex and orgasm are the pinnacle of spiritual awareness and represent the unification of male and female energy.
Leyner and Goldberg suggest that since a man’s orgasm is external, it causes the loss of that energy (through ejaculation). Research shows this loss of energy is also associated with a decrease in activation through the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex switches off post-orgasm, so men might get sleepy because this part of the brain involves consciousness, alertness,and mental activity. In contrast, a woman’s orgasm is an internal explosion of energy. Since she doesn’t experience that same outward loss of energy, she’s ready to cuddle for hours.
(Related: I Can’t Seem to Orgasm During Sex. What Gives?)
He’s not that into talking
Laurie Betito, a Montreal psychologist specializing in sex therapy, says, “Women like to ‘process’ their experiences, hence the desire to talk after sex.” Communication tends to be easier and more natural for women. If a man isn’t a great communicator at the best of times, he’ll be even less likely to engage in a heart-to-heart when he’s flat on his back.
According to sex therapist Ian Kerner, cuddling after sex helps to reinforce intimacy, attachment and an overall sense of connection and commitment. Studies show that the partners of people who fall asleep right after sex have a greater desire for more bonding and affection—no matter who falls asleep after sex. So, finding ways to bond after sex can strengthen your whole relationship.
Here’s what to do
Change the time you have sex. Instead of doing it right before bedtime, initiate sex before a meal. The goal is to avoid having sex late at night when you’re tired, which almost guarantees the Zs.
Next: 6 Reasons Your Partner May Seem Less Interested in Having Sex
