--- title: Does sleep quality change across the menstrual cycle in women with anxiety disorders? description: Sleep quality remained mostly stable across menstrual cycle phases in both groups. The only link found was that larger increases in estradiol were associated url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/subjective-sleep-quality-and-characteristics-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-women-2021/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does sleep quality change across the menstrual cycle in women with anxiety disorders? Case-control study, 2021 # Does sleep quality change across the menstrual cycle in women with anxiety disorders? Sleep quality remained mostly stable across menstrual cycle phases in both groups. The only link found was that larger increases in estradiol were associated with fewer nighttime awakenings. Moderate study design 31 women with generalized anxiety disorder and 32 without. ## What they did Researchers measured sleep in 31 women with generalized anxiety disorder and 32 without at two menstrual cycle phases: early follicular (low hormone levels) and mid-luteal (high hormone levels). They assessed sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and sleep characteristics. ## What they found Women with anxiety reported worse sleep quality, more insomnia, and more daytime sleepiness than those without. However, in both groups, sleep characteristics remained similar across the two menstrual phases. A larger increase in estradiol between phases was linked to fewer nighttime awakenings. ## What it means for you Sleep problems may not change with menstrual hormones the way other psychiatric symptoms do. The study measured sleep at only two points in one cycle, so it could have missed changes at other times. The study focused on anxiety, not PMS, so findings may not apply directly to premenstrual conditions. 31 women with anxiety disorder 32 women without anxiety disorder -0.26 association between estradiol increase and fewer awakenings ## About the study Original title Subjective sleep quality and characteristics across the menstrual cycle in women with and without Generalized Anxiety Disorder Authors Li SH, Lloyd AR, Graham BM Journal Journal of psychosomatic research Year 2021 Study design Case-control study Participants 32 What was tested None - observational comparison of two groups at different menstrual phases. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110570](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110570) ## Topics [Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/) 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 Study, 2026 Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition? Survey study, 2026 What lifestyle and work factors are linked to PMDD symptoms in Chinese nurses? Study, 2026 What are premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Cohort study, 2020 Are women with PMDD more likely to have generalized anxiety disorder? Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Review, 2003 What is PMDD and what treats it? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗