---
title: Does menstrual cycle phase change how the body responds to stress when sleep-deprived?
description: Sleep deprivation affected the heart and blood pressure similarly in both menstrual cycle phases. However, resting blood pressure was slightly lower during th
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/role-of-the-ovarian-cycle-on-neural-cardiovascular-control-in-sleep-deprived-2015/
---

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- Does menstrual cycle phase change how the body responds to stress when sleep-deprived?

Randomised trial, 2015

# Does menstrual cycle phase change how the body responds to stress when sleep-deprived?

Sleep deprivation affected the heart and blood pressure similarly in both menstrual cycle phases. However, resting blood pressure was slightly lower during the luteal phase.

 Moderate study design

14 healthy young women, average age 20 years

## What they did

14 women were tested after complete sleep deprivation twice - once during their follicular phase and once during their luteal phase. While resting, doing a mental stress test, and putting their hand in cold water, researchers measured heart rate, blood pressure, blood vessel function, and nerve activity.

## What they found

Estradiol and progesterone were higher in the luteal phase. Resting blood pressure was lower in the luteal phase (72 vs 75 mmHg). Heart rate, nerve activity, and cardiovascular responses to stress were similar in both phases.

## What it means for you

Sleep deprivation affects cardiovascular responses similarly regardless of menstrual phase. This is a very small study of only 14 women and tested only one night of sleep deprivation, so findings may not apply to longer sleep loss.

14

Study size (women)

72 vs 75

Resting blood pressure mmHg (luteal vs follicular)

63 vs 29

Estradiol pg/ml (luteal vs follicular)

## About the study

Original title Role of the ovarian cycle on neural cardiovascular control in sleep-deprived women Authors Yang H, Durocher JJ, Larson RA et al. Journal Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) Year 2015 Study design Randomised trial Participants 14 What was tested Complete sleep deprivation, tested in two menstrual phases Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00626.2014](https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00626.2014)

## Topics

[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)

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