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By Barry N. Chase, DDS, PC, D. ABDSM, D. ACSDD –
Gary came into the office wearing a Yankees tee shirt and a Mets hat (I root for whose winning). Gary is 55 years old, average height and weight, active, married with children, and suffering from Sleep Apnea. “What’s your main concern about your sleeping?” I asked. “Snoring. Big time snoring. It’s so bad, my wife makes me sleep in the guest room. But in a way it’s OK. Lately, I’m not as interested in sex. Not sure why. Just getting older, I guess. Besides, even if my wife was interested in sex, I don’t think I could do much. Seems I got ED [erectile dysfunction] too”, replied Gary.
Gary is typical of many men seeking treatment for Sleep Apnea. As you just read, Gary really has not connected his sleep apnea with his sexual dysfunction, loss of sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by disruptions in breathing during sleep that lead to lower oxygen levels in the blood and body tissues. Repeated waking or arousals throughout the night occur from the apnea events. The cause of sleep apnea is either the tongue blocking the airway, or the airway (pharynx) collapsing, usually during deep or REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Several studies have shown that sleep apnea sufferers have higher rates of sexual dysfunction.
In 2009 a study done in Germany, reported that 70 percent of men seeking sleep apnea treatment also suffered from ED.
Women are also affected. A recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine with women aged 28 to 64 found that those with sleep apnea were significantly more likely to suffer from loss of libido and sexual dysfunction.
A 2008 experimental study in male mice found that sexual dysfunction arose almost immediately after inducing the kind of oxygen deprivation experienced by sleep apnea sufferers. This University of Louisville study showed that just a week of induced sleep apnea led to a 55 percent decline in daily spontaneous erections. After five weeks of sleep apnea, there was a 60-fold decrease in the frequency of mating attempts in the mice.
During sleep the Sleep experts believe that the body’s levels of the sex hormone testosterone naturally rise. However, when a person has OSA, the intermittent decease of Oxygen causes the stress “flight or fright” reaction. Many hormones are triggered to be released, some of which are Epinephrine (adrenaline) and Cortisol. These are the Stress Hormones and as they go up, the sex hormones, Estrogen and Testosterone, go down.
Nitric Oxide is also decreased during OSA. Nitric Oxide acts as a vasodilator (blood vessel relaxant promoting more blood flow), controls blood flow to tissues and regulates the binding and release of oxygen to hemoglobin. As Nitric Oxide decreases, blood flow to sexual tissues decrease, and erectile dysfunction results. Many drugs that treat ED in men have a Nitric Oxide type ingredient.
The GOOD NEWS: treatment with CPAP or Oral Appliance Therapy can reverse the sexual consequences of OSA.
“Gary, as we treat your OSA with the oral appliance, you may find that the erectile dysfunction diminished and your libido increases”, I told him.
“Doc, that’s such great news, I am so glad I came today, thanks”.
Men, if you have sleep apnea, please be aware:
• Men with erectile dysfunction were more than twice as likely to have OSA as those without erectile dysfunction.
• The more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the likelihood of having OSA
• Men with erectile dysfunction should be screened for OSA
CPAP and oral appliance therapy can work to improve sexual drive and erectile dysfunction. Especially if you suffer from, or a family history of:
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cardio-vascular (heart) disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Weight gain
• Mood disorders (anxiety and/or depression)
Consider a sleep study. Today it has become popular to do a Home Sleep Test. This is a device you wear in your own bed. The device is dropped off early evening and pick up by the service the next day. It captures the essential information we need to sleep; medical/dental data, blood oxygen etc.
After wearing an Oral Appliance for a few months, Gary said “I’m convinced. I’m getting rid of the Andro-gel. I feel energetic, more relaxed, more sexually excited, and my ED is gone.”
Gary’s wife is also happier. Gary is not snoring and he and his wife are sleeping together again. Another happy ending.
www.chasedentalsleepcare.com
Location of an office near you:
Theodore Field, DMD
Chase Dental SleepCare of Boca Raton
3020 N. Military Trl., Suite 250
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 443-4133
Randy L. Furshman, DDS & Associates
Chase Dental SleepCare of South Florida
7800 SW 87th Ave., Suite A-140,
Miami, FL 33173
(305) 598-2622
David Skopp, DDS
Chase Dental SleepCare of Palm Beach Gardens
2560 RCA Blvd, Suite 105
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410
(561) 799-5000
Stephen J. Pyle, DDS
Chase Dental SleepCare of Weston
2239 N. Commerce Pkwy., Suite 1
Weston, FL 33326
(954) 349-4004
Mauricio Malo, DDS
Chase Dental SleepCare of Hollywood
2525 Embassy Dr. #1, Hollywood, FL 33026
(954) 430-3444
Listopad & Finder, DDS
Chase Dental SleepCare of Coral Springs
10161 W Sample Rd., Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954) 752-2970
Fabrizio K. Amador, DMD
Chase Dental SleepCare of Ft. Lauderdale
2330 NE 9th Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 563-5535
David S. Bistritz, DDS
Chase Dental SleepCare of Aventura
18171 Biscayne Blvd
Aventura, Florida 33160
(305) 933-2501
John L. Tumminia, DMD
200 Knuth Rd, Suite 140
Boynton Beach, Fl 33436
(561) 737-1600
G. W. Shamback, DDS & Peter Barnard, DMD
821 South East Ocean Blvd, Suite E
Stuart, Florida 34994
(772) 283-4427
