I just woke up from a great nights sleep. Actually, it was two nights worth of great sleep. I crashed around 12:30AM and slept soundly until about 6AM. My body rudely woke me to use the facilities. This is happening more frequently as I get older. It’s better than wetting the bed, but it interrupts my beauty rest. Most often, I’ll toss and turn for a few minutes, then it’s back to sugarplum hills and chasing nymphs. On those occasions that I just can not drift back into sleep, I have to take matters into my own hands.

Some might reach for their favorite sleep medication. Others may find a project to do until sleep overcomes them again. To each their own, I say. My preference is playing knuckle shuffle. I take advantage of my own gender specific biological tendencies and put myself to sleep with a good old-fashioned climax. It is a wondrous ability that is much maligned by the fair gender. But biologically speaking, it is nearly unavoidable. If that is the case, then why not put it to good use. The question is why do humans, in particular men, tend to crash after orgasm.

The human orgasm is very complex and mediated into several stages. Physiological changes include increased respiration and heart rate, muscular contractions throughout the body, and the release of hormones. It seems that any or all of these things contribute to orgasmic afterglow and waning strength. While the effects of orgasm on the male and female body are similar, it is the male’s rest response that causes concern.

As far as my quick research can tell, male and female physiological changes during sex are the same. Glans swell. The body produces lubricants. Respirations deepens early in coitus, then shallows as orgasm approaches. Pelvic muscles contract in cycles. The nervous system fires throughout the body. Yet a female will recover much faster and be ready to have another orgasm. Males may have to wait anywhere from thirty seconds to a half day to recover from orgasm. This period, called the refractory period, varies according to age and general health. If men do not abide by the refractory period, they will nearly find it impossible to regain a full erection. If a man does maintain an erection, it may be hyper-sensitive to stimulation and may respond with pain.

What contributes to the refractory period is a hormone called prolactin. Prolactin, oddly enough, is found in lactating women and allows the woman’s body to respond to suckling by triggering the body to produce milk. In males non-breastfeeding females, prolactin is released into the blood during periods of heightened stress. It is also seen in higher quantities in men after coitus. The general effects is deeper sense of fatigue. The need for sleep after sex in men may be a reaction to the excess of prolactin in the blood.

Because prolactin is tied to the male refractory period, it is thought that blocking this hormone will shorten the period. Anecdotal observations during clinical studies of dopamine receptor agonist such Dostinex has shown that many male feel a heightened sexual response and shortened refractory period. As yet, the results have not been tested specifically. If this observation proves to be true, then the refractory period can be eliminated. And males can enjoy multiple orgasms with their women.Until scientist come up with a way to deal with the prolactin response in men, I guess I’ll just have to roll over to get some rest and say, “Hey baby, I wish I could, but I need to process this prolactin.”