July 8, 2026, 6:23 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Obstructive sleep apnea is much more than loud snoring and nighttime breathing interruptions. The sleep disorder has been linked to various health consequences for years—including cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Now, a new study suggests it may also impact sexual health. Read on to discover the connections researchers found.
Severe Sleep Apnea Is Associated With Greater Erectile Dysfunction
The study shows a significant, moderate link between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, where the upper airways repeatedly narrow or become blocked during sleep, and erectile function. The more frequent the nighttime breathing interruptions and the greater the drop in blood oxygen levels, the more pronounced the erectile dysfunction. Additionally, men with sleep apnea were significantly more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than men without the sleep disorder.1
Initial indications also suggest that treating sleep apnea with CPAP therapy—a breathing mask that keeps the airways open during sleep—could improve erectile function.
How the Study Was Conducted
For the systematic review, researchers analyzed the results of previously published studies that examined the link between the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction. A total of eight studies involving adult men were included in the analysis.
To determine the severity of sleep apnea, the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was commonly used. It indicates how often per hour of sleep there are breathing interruptions or significantly restricted breathing. Some studies also considered how much the blood oxygen level dropped during sleep. Erectile function was assessed using standardized questionnaires. For the statistical summary of the link between AHI and erectile function, data from seven of the eight studies were combined, as only these provided the necessary statistical comparison values to obtain a reliable overall picture.
The More Severe the Sleep Disorder, the Worse the Erectile Dysfunction
For the main analysis, seven studies with a total of 594 men were evaluated. It was found that the higher the AHI and thus the severity of sleep apnea, the worse the average erectile function. This result remained consistent in additional analyses.
Oxygen supply also played a role. In three studies with a total of 513 participants, a higher minimum oxygen saturation during sleep was associated with better erectile function. Conversely, a more severe nighttime oxygen deficiency seems to increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction among men with sleep apnea ranged from 59 to 69 percent, depending on the study. In contrast, only 13 to 34 percent of men without sleep apnea were affected. Additionally, the risk for both conditions increased with age.
The results regarding possible causes such as reduced testosterone levels or psychological comorbidities were inconsistent. However, all three studies that examined the impact of CPAP therapy reported an improvement in erectile function after starting treatment.
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What This Specifically Means
The authors primarily cite repeated oxygen deficiency during sleep as a possible cause. This can damage blood vessels and thus impair circulation, which is necessary for a normal erection. Whether hormonal changes such as a reduced testosterone level also play a role remains unclear, as the studies provided varying results on this.
According to the authors, men with erectile dysfunction and a simultaneous suspicion of sleep apnea—such as loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, or non-restorative sleep—should be specifically examined. Although some studies reported improvements in erectile function with CPAP therapy, the limited data does not yet allow for a definitive conclusion on its effectiveness.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study
The review consolidates the results of several studies, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of research. Overall, the data suggests a link between the severity of sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction.
However, the results do not allow for conclusions about a cause-and-effect relationship. While the evaluated studies show associations, they cannot prove that sleep apnea causes erectile dysfunction. Additionally, the individual study results were very inconsistent, which somewhat limits the overall significance.
To better understand the connection and determine whether treating sleep apnea can improve erectile function in the long term, further high-quality studies are needed.