I've noticed that if I am hungover or am just really sleep deprived, that my sex drive increases by a ridiculous factor. While I usually normally will masturbate once a day, I've found that in these cases it can go up to 4 or 5 times a day. If I'm having problems staying asleep, I've found that a lot of times I'll wake up after a few hours and be extremely horny. I would have thought it'd be the opposite. I tried doing a google search and found pretty much only one other person on a message board with a similar situation, but no answers.

As for some background, I do have sleeping problems. Sort of. I did a sleep study and technically I sleep just fine...except that my clock is like 4 or 5 hours off from where it would work best in my work life. Don't know if that makes any difference.

Dear ilikerobots,

Since I'm not a physician and have not examined you in person - or even taken a thorough medical history - it's very difficult to say. I do believe that your circadian rhythm is off and that may have something to do with your testosterone cycles spiking at odd hours. Also, when you are hung over, your serotonin levels can get quite low, which can contribute to increased libido. Many clinically depressed individuals find that they actually have a higher sex drive when they are not medicated [on SSRI's in particular.]

If this bothers you, see a physician. If not, then stay horny and happy. I'd get that circadian rhythm fixed though...or maybe different working hours?

Enjoy the self-pleasuring,
the Love Goddess

If I am at home sick in bed with the flu or the like, I find I simply cannot keep my hands off myself, or I want my wife to satisfy me much more often than usual.   I do not know what it is about being sick that brings it out in me, but since I have not been sick in bed for quite a while, I somewhat miss it (but not that much!)

Hey that happens to me quite noticeably when I'm tired. And by tired, I don't mean physically drained but sleep deprived. When I'm physically drained, it's not the same, but when I'm sleep deprived, I'm totally horny. I think I agree with LoveGoddess's post, I know that sleep restores serotonin and serotonin doesn't promote sex. I had always attributed it to some hormone or neurotransmitter difference caused due to the lack of sleep.

This is very interesting because I have read that chronic lack of sleep can lower libido and even contribute to erectile dysfunction. To be honest I have no idea whether what I read was based on solid research. I just googled this topic when I read this thread. So I really do not have an informed opinion.  It's just interesting that there is another perspective out there. Actually if it is true for you that lack of sleep makes you horny that is all that really matters. I actually wake up from a great nights sleep very horny.

There is no question serotonin can contribute to sexual problems. I took Lexapro for about two months a couple of years ago for anxiety issues and I could not have an orgasm. Now that made me more anxious and frustrated than any possible positive affects from the medication so I decided if I get anxious I will find other ways to deal with it

-- Modified on 8/12/2008 5:49:17 PM