Cohort study, 2000
Does progesterone affect REM sleep and mood?
Yes. During the menstrual cycle, women with high progesterone had more REM sleep and better mood. After birth, when progesterone drops, sleep patterns change but mood seems related more to overall sleep disruption than to progesterone changes alone.
What they did
This was a longitudinal study where researchers measured REM sleep using home sleep monitors at seven different time points. They studied 34 women at different points of their menstrual cycle and separately studied 31 women during pregnancy and one month after birth. They measured blood progesterone levels and mood.
What they found
Women who ovulated (high progesterone in the luteal phase) had shorter REM latency, more REM sleep, and more positive mood compared to those who did not ovulate. Compared to the third trimester, REM latency was significantly shorter at one month postpartum. Mood was most positive at the second trimester and most negative at one month postpartum.
What it means for you
Progesterone changes during the menstrual cycle link to REM sleep and mood changes. After birth, disrupted sleep seems to affect mood more than progesterone changes do. The study is small but well-designed. These are associations, not proof of cause and effect.
34
women studied during menstrual cycle
31
women studied during pregnancy and postpartum
7
time points measured
About the study
- Original title
- REM sleep and mood state in childbearing women: sleepy or weepy?
- Authors
- Lee KA, McEnany G, Zaffke ME
- Journal
- Sleep
- Year
- 2000
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 34
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/sleep/23.7.1b
Topics
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