Survey study, 2020
Does poor sleep worsen PMS and other menstrual problems?
Yes, strongly. Women with poor sleep quality or insomnia are significantly more likely to have irregular periods, heavy bleeding, painful periods, and PMS. Those with insomnia are 1.93 times more likely to have PMS.
What they did
Cross-sectional study of 1006 female university students in China. Researchers measured sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Insomnia Severity Index questionnaires, and asked about menstrual problems.
What they found
Women with poor sleep quality were 1.81 times more likely to have periods lasting 7 or more days, 1.55 times more likely to have period pain, 1.71 times more likely to have PMS, and 1.75 times more likely to have heavy bleeding. Women with insomnia symptoms were 1.93 times more likely to have PMS and 1.36 times more likely to have irregular cycles (all p < 0.05).
What it means for you
Improving sleep might help reduce menstrual problems including PMS. However, this is an observational study, so we cannot prove poor sleep causes the problems. Better sleep could help, but other factors may be involved.
1006
Number of students
1.93
Increased risk of PMS with insomnia symptoms
1.81
Increased risk of menstrual flow lasting 7+ days with poor sleep
About the study
- Original title
- Sleep disturbance is associated with an increased risk of menstrual problems in female Chinese university students
- Authors
- Xing X, Xue P, Li SX et al.
- Journal
- Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 1,006
- What was tested
- None (observational)
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s11325-020-02105-1
Topics
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