Why science says you SHOULD sleep apart from your partner if you want a fiery sex life

Almost half of people who sleep in seperate beds from their partner credit their sleeping situation for a 'rejuvenated' romantic relationship, while a fifth say it's led to a healthier sex life, a new poll has found.

What's more, three quarters of 'sleep divorced' couples say their quality of shut eye improved after splitting into separate bedrooms.

The survey of 2,000 Americans, by market research firm OnePoll, found that, even for those who share a bed, 36 percent are glad when their partner isn't home as it means they get a better night's sleep. 

And 82 percent say their partner's sleeping habits keep them up at night. 

The poll found that 21 percent of couples who live together are 'sleep divorced,' meaning they sleep in separate beds - and sometimes bedrooms - to avoid getting woken up or disturbed by their partner.

A new poll showed that many Americans' sleep is disrupted by their partner

Sleeping separately has become a hot topic in the relationship world, with social media posts talking about sleep divorce and how it has saved relationships garnering millions of views.

Erin Flynn-Evans, a sleep scientist with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, told CBS News the trend is catching on because people realize 'there are benefits for some partners to sleep separately.'

Some of the top reasons people cited for their issues in bed were their partner's snoring, phone use, and bathroom use. There were also the issue of bed selfishness- 27 percent of respondents reported their partner hogged the blanket and 21 percent reported their partner took too much space. 

Sleep is crucial to an individual's overall health and daily mood - and those two aspects can have an impact on relationships, Sari Cooper, a sex and couples therapist told the Wall Street Journal.

She said: 'This is why couples say one of their most satisfying sexual experiences is when they go on vacation [because] they get time to rest.'

OnePoll's study is not the first to explore how marital sleep habits affect a relationship. 

A 2017 study from psychologists at Ohio State University found couples with poorer sleep quality had more marital conflict. 

And the more conflict, the less the couples reported being satisfied with their relationship. 

Sharing a bed isn't all bad, however. 

Sleep specialist Dr Daniel Shade told CBS Pittsburgh there are many reported benefits. When sleeping next to a partner, the body releases tons of feel-good, bonding chemicals, like oxytocin, which has been dubbed as 'the cuddle hormone.'

When these chemicals get released, they bond you more tightly to your partner, he explained. This may help you feel more satisfied in your relationship. 

But, if your partner's snoring, tossing and sleep talking are what is keeping you up at night, then taking care of your sleep should be the priority, Dr shade said.