A good night's sleep is essential for many reasons, including a healthy sex life, a study said.

In a study published in the September issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, scientists compared 80 women with obstructive sleep apnea between the ages of 28 and 64 with 240 women who sleep normally without interruptions. The results revealed that apnea patients had significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction.

An apnea is a period of time during which breathing stops or is markedly reduced during sleep, according to Medterms.com. Fatigue and high blood pressure are reported as common causes.

An earlier study in Turkey determined sleep apnea "negatively impacts sexual function in women independent of age and associated co-morbid diseases."

In a 2009 German study, researchers studied 401 men who were seeking treatment for suspected sleep apnea. Of those confirmed to have the condition, about 70 per cent also had erectile dysfunction, as opposed to 34 per cent in those who had no sleep disorders.

Sleep apnea certainly has a direct link to intimacy and sexual relations, says Andrew L. Ries, MD, professor of medicine and family and preventive medicine at the University of California in San Diego.

"But it appears that the major difference is whether the patients were complying with treatment or not complying," he said. "One of the big problems in the treatment of sleep apnea is getting people to accept it and stay with it."

Medical sources say snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea. Doctors advice that individuals suffering from sleep obstructions should seek treatment, as patients who are treated for their sleep apnea may see their intimate relationships improve.

"It could be that they are less tired once the sleep apnea is being treated," says Terri Weaver, RN, PhD, associate professor and chairwoman of the biobehavioral and health sciences division at the University of Pennsylvania.