Most men fall asleep after sexual intercourse. While most women see this as an unpleasant act, there is a scientific reason for it. It’s all about chemicals in the brain. The vast majority of people prefer to go to bed to have sexual intercourse. The body can associate this with sleep.
During sex, the brain releases a mixture of its chemicals. These include norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, vasopressin, nitric oxide (NO), and the hormone prolactin.
Prolactin is linked to feelings of sexual satisfaction. As with sexual intercourse, prolactin levels tend to be higher during sleep. This hormone may also explain why men often become sleepy after sex together and not after masturbation.
While scientists aren’t entirely sure why, it turns out that having an orgasm with a partner releases four times more prolactin than a solo orgasm. Oxytocin and vasopressin released during orgasm are also associated with sleep. Their release often brings with them the release of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the body clock. So if you’re reaching orgasm, it’s perfectly normal to feel sleepy after sex.
MORE DIFFERENT FOR WOMEN
Studies show that women are less likely to fall asleep, even when they reach orgasm. Men need rest after having sex, while women are more likely to stay half-awake.
According to the Times of India, one of the arguments for why this affects men more than women is that having sex tends to reduce the energy-producing glycogen in the muscles.
Women generally have less muscle mass than men, which means they will be less likely to feel tired afterwards.