Cohort study, 2026
Does sleep change during different phases of the menstrual cycle?
Yes, women's sleep is disrupted during menstruation and the pre-menstrual phase of their cycle, though they often don't notice it happening.
What they did
A 3-month study of 12 female team sport athletes. Participants wore a sleep-tracking ring and kept sleep diaries. They tracked their menstrual cycle using a smartphone app and ovulation tests to identify which cycle phase they were in.
What they found
Objective sleep data showed that women actually slept 55 minutes less than they thought. During menstruation, sleep efficiency decreased and the time to fall asleep increased. During the pre-menstrual phase, women had more wake events. Sleep quality fluctuated across the cycle. Cycle-related symptoms peaked during menstruation and the pre-menstrual phase, matching the timing of sleep disruptions.
What it means for you
Female athletes may benefit from tracking which cycle phases disrupt sleep and planning rest strategies. The study was very small (only 12 athletes) and involved competitive athletes, so results may not apply to all women.
12
female athletes tracked
55 minutes
difference between perceived and actual sleep
3 months
study duration
About the study
- Original title
- Sleep Characteristics and Menstrual Cycle Phase-Based Differences in Sleep in Naturally Menstruating Elite Female Team Sport Athletes
- Authors
- McGeever A, Mallon N, Bruinvels G et al.
- Journal
- European journal of sport science
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None - observational monitoring of sleep and menstrual cycle
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70195
Topics
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