Survey study, 2016
Does sleep difficulty change across the menstrual cycle?
This study of 213 young women found that sleep difficulty varies across the menstrual cycle in different patterns for different women. Some had more trouble around their period or mid-cycle, while others showed no change.
What they did
Cross-sectional study with 213 female university students (mean age 21.29 years). Participants completed daily online questionnaires about sleep difficulty, mood, and physical symptoms for two consecutive menstrual cycles.
What they found
Two patterns of menstrual cycle-related sleep difficulty emerged: some women reported more difficulty sleeping around menstruation (perimenstrual), and some in the middle of the cycle. Other women showed no cyclical changes. All psychological and vegetative symptoms, and some physical symptoms, were significantly associated with sleep difficulty.
What it means for you
This study shows that sleep difficulty related to the menstrual cycle is not the same for all women, with individual patterns varying. The relationship between emotional and physical symptoms and sleep is strong. A limitation is that sleep was self-reported rather than objectively measured. Participants were university-aged women, so results may not apply to other age groups.
213
women studied
21.29
mean age in years
2
menstrual cycles tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Individual differences in self-reported difficulty sleeping across the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Van Reen E, Kiesner J
- Journal
- Archives of women's mental health
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 213
- What was tested
- None - prospective diary observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0621-9
Topics
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