--- title: Does sleep change during different parts of the menstrual cycle? description: Most aspects of sleep stay the same across the menstrual cycle in healthy women. But a specific type of brain wave pattern during sleep (sleep spindles) does url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/sleep-and-the-sleep-electroencephalogram-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-young-1996/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does sleep change during different parts of the menstrual cycle? Lab study, 1996 # Does sleep change during different parts of the menstrual cycle? Most aspects of sleep stay the same across the menstrual cycle in healthy women. But a specific type of brain wave pattern during sleep (sleep spindles) does vary and is highest during the luteal phase. Early or limited evidence 9 healthy young women with no PMS symptoms ## What they did Researchers recorded sleep from 9 healthy young women with no PMS symptoms, measuring their sleep every second night for one full menstrual cycle. They tracked sleep quality, how long it took to fall asleep, different types of sleep, and brain wave patterns. They confirmed which cycle phase women were in using temperature, hormone levels, and other markers. ## What they found Sleep quality, mood ratings, total sleep time, how easily they fell asleep, and deep sleep amounts did not change meaningfully across the cycle. However, one specific type of brain wave (14.25-15.0 hertz, which shows up as sleep spindles) varied greatly across the cycle and was highest during the luteal phase. This brain wave pattern varied along with body temperature. ## What it means for you In healthy young women without PMS, the menstrual cycle doesn't disrupt most sleep measures, though a specific brain wave pattern does change. This was a very small study with only 9 women and no comparison group, so results may not apply to all women or to women with PMS. 138 Sleep episodes recorded 9 Number of women studied 14.25-15.0 hertz Brain wave frequency that varied across cycle ## About the study Original title Sleep and the sleep electroencephalogram across the menstrual cycle in young healthy women Authors Driver HS, Dijk DJ, Werth E et al. Journal The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Year 1996 Study design Lab study Participants 9 What was tested None (observation only) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.2.8636295](https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.2.8636295) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/) 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. ## Related studies Review, 2024 What do brain wave patterns show about PMS and PMDD? Survey study, 2026 How do pain, sleep quality, and appetite change across the menstrual cycle? Survey study, 2025 What behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are most common? Survey study, 2024 Does poor sleep and period problems affect teen mental health? Survey study, 2024 Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles? Lab study, 2023 Does sleep change across the menstrual cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗