---
title: How do menstrual cycle phase and hormonal birth control affect sleep?
description: Women on hormonal birth control had better sleep quality and fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared to women not on birth control. The effect of
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-population-based-survey-on-the-influence-of-the-menstrual-cycle-and-the-use-of-2013/
---

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- How do menstrual cycle phase and hormonal birth control affect sleep?

Cohort study, 2013

# How do menstrual cycle phase and hormonal birth control affect sleep?

Women on hormonal birth control had better sleep quality and fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared to women not on birth control. The effect of birth control was stronger than menstrual cycle phase.

 Moderate study design

297 premenopausal women in São Paulo, Brazil

## What they did

A study of 297 women in São Paulo, Brazil. Researchers gave them questionnaires, measured hormones in blood, and recorded their sleep overnight with equipment.

## What they found

Women on hormonal contraceptives had lower breathing interruptions (1.1) compared to follicular phase (2.2) and luteal phase (2.9). Women on hormonal contraceptives also tended to sleep more efficiently. Women in the follicular phase reported more fatigue than those in the luteal phase or on birth control.

## What it means for you

Birth control appears to help women sleep better by reducing breathing interruptions. However, this was one study in one country with 297 women, so results might not apply to all women or all settings.

1.1

Breathing interruptions on birth control

2.2

Breathing interruptions in follicular phase

2.9

Breathing interruptions in luteal phase

## About the study

Original title A population-based survey on the influence of the menstrual cycle and the use of hormonal contraceptives on sleep patterns in São Paulo, Brazil Authors Hachul H, Andersen ML, Bittencourt L et al. Journal International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Year 2013 Study design Cohort study Participants 297 What was tested Hormonal contraceptives Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.08.020](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.08.020)

## Topics

[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

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