Survey study, 2007
Are women with severe premenstrual symptoms more sleepy before their period?
Yes, women with significant emotional or behavioral premenstrual symptoms are sleepier during the late-luteal phase before their period than women with minimal symptoms. However, this sleepiness is not explained by worse nighttime sleep.
What they did
A study where 10 women with significant premenstrual symptoms and 9 women with minimal symptoms (mean age 26 years) spent one night in a sleep laboratory during the follicular phase and two nights during the late-luteal phase, including one with a 40-minute nap opportunity. Researchers measured sleep patterns, daytime sleepiness, and body temperature.
What they found
Women with significant symptoms were sleepier and less alert during the late-luteal phase compared to women with minimal symptoms. Both groups had less deep sleep and more light sleep during the late-luteal phase. Body temperature was higher in both groups. The increased sleepiness in women with symptoms was not explained by differences in nighttime sleep or napping.
What it means for you
Severe premenstrual symptoms are linked to increased daytime sleepiness before your period, even though nighttime sleep doesn't necessarily become worse. This is a small study, so results need confirmation in larger groups.
10
women with significant premenstrual symptoms
9
women with minimal premenstrual symptoms
26 years
mean age
About the study
- Original title
- Nocturnal sleep, daytime sleepiness, and napping among women with significant emotional/behavioral premenstrual symptoms
- Authors
- Lamarche LJ, Driver HS, Wiebe S et al.
- Journal
- Journal of sleep research
- Year
- 2007
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 10
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00604.x
Topics
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