Better sexual life thanks to CPAP therapy, prescribed for Sleep Apnea patients

New research proves that ED is widespread among men who were diagnosed with OSA (stands for obstructive sleep apnea and demonstrates) and demonstrates that CPAP therapy enhances male might and contributes to sexual satisfaction in these patients. CPAP is continuous positive airway pressure, a kind of ventilation therapy performed by special machine.

The conclusions were made and announced by the medical doctor Joseph W. Dombrowsky, an expert of the Sleep Disorders Center in USA.

92 male patients diagnosed with OSA by the laboratory-based PSG passed their CPAP therapy. The following figures should be noted:

  • The age of men was 45.8 in average
  • Average BMI was 29 kg/m2 and AHI (average apnea index – 38 events every hour that demonstrated the degree of condition

Unusual data revealed

A little bit more than 43% of male patients suffered additionally from erectile dysfunction. The index according to IIEF rating was lower than 25. If we assess the severity of sexual disorder, we will see that 24% suffered from the mild form of ED. The moderate ED was observed in 8% of patients and 12% had erectile dysfunction in the most serious form.

The experts did not expect that so many patients from the studied group had ED problem taking into account their relatively young age.

In the same way, the team of researchers was surprised with improvement of the condition after CPAP therapy was conducted.

Positive changes were discovered in 54.4% of patients with mild condition of erectile dysfunction. As for the moderate and severe forms of ED, the enhancement was noticed in 28.6 and 27.3% correspondingly. Besides, the experts said about the tendency to enhancement in accordance with IIEF parameters of sexual desire in patients who had sexual disorder and those who did not have one. Those who underwent regular CPAP therapy were more inclined to better results than the rest.

There were not so many men who took part in that study – only 92 patients therefore it was impossible to connect the results with other conditions, for instance, diabetes or hypertension. The researchers would be glad to discover more facts, but only 3.3% of men had diabetes and 33% - hypertension.

The researchers faced unexpected data and the question naturally suggests itself: can the patient take advantage of CPAP to improve his ED condition? The doctor does not clarify this issue and says that there is no such information. The results are too scare, in the opinion of the scientist to make some conclusions. It is impossible to assume that better oxygenation or better sleeping enhances sexual drive in men. More extended studies are required to answer the question.