Many companies work around the clock and employees may have a fixed morning, afternoon or evening work schedule, or work shifts and change schedules on a weekly or monthly basis. This is also true for medical professionals, police officers, firefighters, etc. However, these changes can be detrimental to workers’ health for a number of reasons, and now a new study has found that rotating shifts and shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) may contribute to men experiencing premature ejaculation.
The adverse effect of shift work sleep disorder in men includes lower testosterone levels and an increased risk of hypogonadism, which has been associated with premature ejaculation and negatively affects both reproductive capacity and erectile function. The research has been conducted by Chinese scientists and its results have been published in BMC Public Health.
Individual circadian rhythms can be disrupted if people alternate between day and night shifts, making these workers more prone to suffer from shift work sleep disorder, which is characterized by insomnia, drowsiness, or both, and has several adverse effects on the physical and mental health of the affected individual.
Shift work and male reproductive health
The researchers hypothesized that sleep disturbances and shift work indirectly influence the occurrence of premature ejaculation through the secretion of central neurotransmitters and increase the risk of developing other diseases. This study builds on previous work indicating that premature ejaculation is influenced by various hormones and neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, which in turn are affected by sleep duration and rhythm.
Between April and October 2023, a representative sample of 1,239 individuals from various regions in China was recruited to participate in the study. The sample included 399 shift workers – 148 of whom reported having sleep disorder due to shift work – and 840 workers with a fixed working schedule.
A SWSD questionnaire was used to assess participants’ sleep quality. The Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Instrument (PEDT) and International Inventory of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores were also used to assess ejaculatory control and erectile function, respectively.
Linear regression models were used to estimate and account for confounding factors to identify specific risk factors associated with premature ejaculation, including sleeping less than six hours per day, anxiety, depression, frequent alcohol consumption, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and erectile dysfunction. Premature ejaculation was also more likely in overweight men and those older than 45 years.
Shift work for more than a year significantly increased the risk of premature ejaculation, with this effect being much stronger after three years of working in shift rotation.
Higher PEDT scores confirmed the hypothesis that men who work shifts, particularly those with SWSD, are more likely to report problems with premature ejaculation compared to fixed-time workers. Shift work for less than one year had no significant impact on premature ejaculation, whereas shift work for more than one year significantly increased the risk of premature ejaculation, with this effect being much stronger after three years of rotating shift work.
Young men were more likely to work shifts compared to older or middle-aged men, raising concerns about the reproductive health of young men who work shifts and suffer from sleep disorders as a result.
Mechanisms involved in sleep disorders and premature ejaculation
Neurotransmitter secretion and circadian rhythms can be affected by SWSD and shift work, which also negatively impact insulin and glucagon secretion, disrupting metabolic homeostasis and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, many of which are also risk factors for premature ejaculation.
SWSD and shift work can also affect changes in steroid hormones in the body, increase the risk of hypogonadism, and potentially affect erectile function, all of which are biological changes that can directly or indirectly influence the development of premature ejaculation.
The findings of the study confirm the negative impact of SWSD and shift work on premature ejaculation and the increased risk of premature ejaculation as the duration of shift work increases. However, further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which sleep disorders influence this sexual dysfunction.
One limitation of this study is the use of the SWSD questionnaire to assess participants’ sleep quality, which may be less accurate than the results of the polysomnography test. The researchers also did not take into account the effect of various physical and chemical factors to which individuals are exposed during shift work.
