5 facts about sleep apnea and ED

The side effects of sleep apnea—fatigue, high blood pressure, risk of heart disease and stroke—are well-known. But one issue that is not as widely talked about is sleep apnea and ED.

1. Continued research finds that having sleep apnea can be a drag on your love life, causing erectile dysfunction in men as well as a loss of libido in women.
2. Past studies in men have shown a spike in erectile dysfunction (ED) among men who suffer from the obstructive sleep disorder (OSA). A study done in Germany reported that 70 percent of men seeking sleep apnea treatment also suffered from ED.
3. One study suggests that men with erectile dysfunction (ED) should be screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). After adjusting for age and other health conditions, they found patients with ED were more than twice as likely to have sleep apnea than their counterparts
4. In another study, Doctors assessed patients with ED for evidence of sleep disordered breathing. They found that a whopping 91.3% of men with ED also had OSA.
5. The researchers have stopped short of recommending ED drugs for men with sleep apnea, but they note that using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to treat sleep apnea can help with erectile dysfunction.

 Making the decision to consult a physician is the first important step, one that unfortunately can still be a difficult one for some men. Men who are struggling with issues related to sexual function should have a sleep study evaluation.

The good news is that treatments for obstructive sleep apnea such as CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, weight loss etc. — are safe and effective and can usually get you back in the game.

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