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.
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
Topics
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