I want cuddles from sleepy hubby after sex
Although it doesn’t immediately spring to mind as a serious subject for scientific investigation, there is, in fact, a wealth of research devoted to the male propensity to fall asleep after sex. Basically, ejaculation and orgasm flood the brain with a cocktail of neuro-chemicals (norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, vasopressin, nitric oxide and prolactin) that collectively contribute to feelings of satiety and satisfaction after sex. The release of oxytocin and vasopressin often coincide with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the body clock, while the hormone prolactin is directly associated with sleep and relaxation. In men, prolactin also mediates the “refractory period”, the time it takes to recover from orgasm and regain the ability to have an erection.
It’s not just men who feel sleepy after sex as orgasm leads to an escalation in the secretion of prolactin in both genders. However, there are competing theories as to whether an orgasm induced by masturbation produces as much as an orgasm induced by intercourse. One study has suggested that prolactin increases to levels of between 15 and 25ng/ml for at least one hour after an orgasm achieved by either coitus or masturbation, while another more recent study suggests the magnitude of prolactin increase after intercourse is 400% greater than that following masturbation.
