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Sleep expert says 'you are choosing the worst time of day for sex'; reveals what is the best window to be intimate

Updated on: Feb 17, 2026, 16:23:41 IST
According to the sleep expert, you are choosing the worst time of day for sex if you are intimate at night. (Freepik)
According to the sleep expert, you are choosing the worst time of day for sex if you are intimate at night. (Freepik)
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According to Dr Breus, intimacy is best in the morning because hormone levels are optimal. Late-night intimacy is less favourable because melatonin is high.

What do you think is the perfect time to be intimate with your partner? Some couples get intimate late at night after they have wrapped up the day's chores and want to unwind with their partner, while others prefer the morning when they have freshly woken up from a good 8-hour sleep. But what do you think is the best time to have sex?

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In an Instagram post shared by The Diary of A CEO podcast on February 15, Dr Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist, talked about the best time to have sex with your partner based on the hormone profile we have throughout the day.

The best time to have sex with your partner

According to the sleep expert, you are choosing the worst time of day for sex. In the video, he emphasised that most couples are intimate late at night when melatonin is high, and arousal hormones like testosterone and estrogen are lower. Noting that from a biological standpoint, that is not ideal.

He explained, “First of all, there are a couple of different answers to this question. Most people are intimate between 10:30 and 11:30 at night. That's just a survey that we did. So, it makes kind of a lot of sense. But here's what's interesting is your hormone profile doesn't look too good at 11:30 at night for having sex.”

What does your body need for better intimacy?

The sleep expert noted that to be intimate with your partner and satisfy each other's needs, you want estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, adrenaline, and cortisol all high, and melatonin low.

“What do you think your hormone profile looks like at 10:30 at night?” he inquired, answering that it's literally the opposite during the night. “Melatonin is high, and all those other things are low. That's hint number one as to when would probably be the best time to have sex,” he further explained.

Moreover, he explained that in the survey data sets, they discovered that people actually have a greater connection and greater performance when they have sex in the morning.

All in all, early morning is the peak period for intimacy because hormone levels are optimally aligned for connection. However, consent and your partner's willingness to have sex take priority over everything else. So, ask and understand their needs.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krishna Pallavi Priya

Krishna Priya Pallavi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience, covering health, fashion, pop culture, travel, wellness, entertainment, festivals, mental health, art, decor, fitness, and sex and relationships. She is an alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Dhenkanal, and holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. Her strong academic foundation informs her analytical and detail-oriented approach to storytelling, helping her uncover stories where none seem to exist. Before joining Hindustan Times, Pallavi worked with some of India’s leading media organisations. She spent close to three years at India Today, where she honed her newsroom skills and developed a sharp editorial sensibility. She also worked for over a year and a half at Vagabomb, ScoopWhoop’s feminist digital platform, where she explored stories through a gender-sensitive, socially aware lens. Pallavi has a deep interest in global fashion trends and international fashion seasons, and enjoys interviewing celebrities and tracking pop culture movements—interests that frequently translate into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Alongside lifestyle and entertainment, she has a keen eye for impactful health and wellness journalism, regularly interacting with doctors, designers, and digital content creators to bring nuance and credibility to her work. Born and raised in Haryana, Pallavi remains deeply connected to her ancestral roots in Odisha. Her ability to spot fresh angles brings curiosity and depth to stories she pursues. When not chasing deadlines, she enjoys spending time with her dog, planning her next vacation, reading, running new trails, and discovering new destinations.

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Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
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