In the past, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been correlated with a number of sexual health issues in both men and women, including hampering sexual desire in women and causing erectile dysfunction in men. Now a new study conducted by researchers in Spain has found that mice suffering from disrupted sleep cycles (mirroring the effects of sleep apnea) have reduced fertility in comparison to mice that have normal sleep patterns.
In the study, scientists intermittently disrupted the breathing patterns of a group of male mice, much like the breathing patterns of sleep apnea sufferers are disrupted. They then had this group of mice, along with a group of control mice, mate with female partners. The mice who had trouble breathing during sleep impregnated a significantly lower number of female mice than the mice who breathed regularly at night.
Researchers concluded from the results that, “intermittent hypoxia associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) could induce fertility reduction in male patients with this sleep breathing disorder.”
Male fertility issues are just one of a large number of health concerns faced by those who suffer from moderate to severe sleep apnea. While we do not yet understand exactly why sleep apnea is associated with reduced male fertility, we do know that it is also associated with high blood pressure, obesity, heart problems, diabetes, and other health concerns that have also correlated with sexual health issues. Hopefully, as research continues, we will understand these complex relationships more clearly.
Read the full journal article, published in SLEEP.
You Don’t Have to Live With Your Sleep Apnea Symptoms
At Surgical Sleep Solutions, we understand that sleep apnea affects your life in a myriad of ways, far beyond the problem of getting restful sleep. If you have been suffering from sexual health problems related to sleep apnea, including male fertility issues, decreased libido, or erectile dysfunction, you may benefit from treating your sleep apnea. We offer our patients an innovative sleep apnea treatment model that effectively cures sleep apnea in up to 99 percent of patients through a jaw surgery called bimaxillary advancement. To learn more about our sleep apnea surgery, or to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons, we encourage you to call us today: 855-560-7378.
To learn if you may suffer from this common sleep disorder, please take our sleep apnea self-evaluation.