SleepFoundation.org does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment options. Get personalized guidance from the experts who know sleep best. Whether you need expert sleep advice for your insomnia or you’re searching for the perfect mattress, we’ve got you covered. Although the relationship between testosterone and OSA are complex and not yet completely understood, OSA may contribute to low testosterone because hypoxia and sleep fragmentation. Sleep-related increase in serum testosterone is linked with the appearance of first REM sleep and requires 3 hours of deep sleep. CPAP resolved ED in 75% of OSA patients, resulting in significant improvement in quality of life . A recent meta-analysis reported that the relative risk of ED in OSA patients was 1.82 . Furthermore, OSA has been proposed to be a risk factor for secondary polycythemia and TRT exacerbates polycythemia in some patients . Development of the signs and symptoms of OSA during TRT requires assessment by polysomnography and, potentially, treatment with CPAP. Treatment of moderate to severe OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) does not reliably increase testosterone levels in most studies. Various disorders of sleep including abnormalities of sleep quality, duration, circadian rhythm disruption, and sleep-disordered breathing may result in a reduction in testosterone levels. Plasma testosterone levels display circadian variation, peaking during sleep, and reaching a nadir in the late afternoon, with a superimposed ultradian rhythm with pulses every 90 min reflecting the underlying rhythm of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. But when you suffer from sleep apnea, your sleep is repeatedly disrupted, especially in the restorative stages when testosterone production peaks. During deep sleep, the body naturally produces testosterone. For many men, these symptoms aren’t just part of "getting older." They could be signs of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It keeps your upper airways open during sleep, which can significantly alleviate OSA symptoms. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, including nasal continuous positive airway pressure, has been found to mitigate some of these cardiovascular risks by stabilizing airflow during sleep. Sleep apnea, specifically obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), is closely linked with an elevated risk of cardiovascular conditions. Remember that maintaining a balance of sex hormones like testosterone is essential for your overall health and well-being. However, if sleep apnea is present, these benefits must be weighed against the possibility of worsening sleep-related symptoms. Low testosterone levels have been linked with a range of issues, including erectile dysfunction and reproductive dysfunction.