Rob Shockey
Mar 22, 2023
Testosterone is a significant factor in your sleep patterns and how your body responds.
Testosterone levels are closely linked to sleep patterns and circadian rhythms. Testosterone levels typically peak in the early morning hours, between 3 AM and 8 AM4. This peak in testosterone is dependent on getting at least 3 hours of sleep with normal sleep architecture2. Sleep deprivation and disruption can negatively impact testosterone levels. Studies have found that:
Getting only 5 hours of sleep per night for 1 week can decrease testosterone levels by 10-15% in young, healthy men35.
Chronic sleep restriction, such as sleeping less than 6 hours per night, is associated with lower testosterone levels in both men and women, especially in middle-aged adults1.
Sleep disorders like sleep apnea and disruption of circadian rhythms can also lead to reduced testosterone production24.
Conversely, low testosterone levels can also negatively impact sleep quality and duration. Testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to improve overall sleep quality in men with low testosterone2.In summary, there is a bidirectional relationship between testosterone and sleep - adequate sleep is necessary to maintain healthy testosterone levels, while low testosterone can also contribute to sleep disturbances4. Maintaining good sleep habits is important for optimizing testosterone production and overall health14.
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3955336/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4445839/
[4] https://www.menshealth.com/health/a42642293/sleep-affects-your-testosterone-levels/