---
title: How does the menstrual cycle affect sleep? | Niyora
description: Sleep quality is worse during the premenstrual phase and during menstruation, especially if you have PMS or period pain. The week before your period also invo
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/menstrual-cycle-effects-on-sleep-2018/
---

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- How does the menstrual cycle affect sleep?

Review, 2018

# How does the menstrual cycle affect sleep?

Sleep quality is worse during the premenstrual phase and during menstruation, especially if you have PMS or period pain. The week before your period also involves less REM sleep and changes in body temperature.

 Moderate study design

Review article; applies to women generally and those with sleep or menstrual complaints

## What they did

Review of research on how the menstrual cycle affects both how women report their sleep quality and objective sleep measurements.

## What they found

Poorer sleep occurs in the premenstrual phase and during menstruation, particularly in women with PMS or painful cramps. Sleep spindle activity increases from follicular to luteal phase, possibly related to progesterone. The luteal phase also shows reduced REM sleep and blunted temperature rhythm amplitude. Short sleep duration is associated with irregular menstrual cycles.

## What it means for you

Poor sleep before your period is likely part of PMS. Doctors should ask about menstrual symptoms when assessing sleep problems. Better sleep may help regulate menstrual cycles.

## About the study

Original title Menstrual Cycle Effects on Sleep Authors Baker FC, Lee KA Journal Sleep medicine clinics Year 2018 Study design Review What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.002](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.002)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?

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Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health?

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