Case report, 1994
Does the menstrual cycle affect how quickly we enter REM sleep?
In one woman, sleep changed dramatically between the two halves of her menstrual cycle, particularly in how quickly she entered REM sleep.
What they did
One healthy woman without premenstrual complaints spent 2 consecutive nights sleeping in a lab: once during the first half of her cycle and once during the second half. Doctors measured her sleep patterns including how quickly she reached REM sleep and how much REM sleep she had.
What they found
The time to reach REM sleep dropped from 62.5 minutes in the first half of her cycle to 4.0 minutes in the second half. The percentage of REM sleep increased. Very little deep sleep occurred in either phase.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle might affect REM sleep, but this is only one healthy woman who reported no daytime sleepiness. Much more research is needed.
62.5 minutes
time to REM sleep in first half of cycle
4.0 minutes
time to REM sleep in second half of cycle
About the study
- Original title
- Case report: menstrual-related very short REM latency in a healthy normal control
- Authors
- Armitage R, Yonkers KA
- Journal
- Sleep
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Case report
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/sleep/17.4.345
Topics
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