Cohort study, 2005
Does progesterone in the luteal phase help women breathe better during sleep?
Yes. Upper airway resistance was lower in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase, suggesting progesterone protects breathing during sleep. However, the study was very small with only 11 women.
What they did
A study of 11 healthy women without sleep problems. Each woman slept in a lab twice, once during the follicular phase (day 6-11) and once during the luteal phase (day 19-23). Breathing and upper airway resistance were measured.
What they found
Upper airway resistance was significantly higher in the follicular phase than luteal phase during wake and stage 2 sleep. Overall airway resistance across all sleep stages was higher in follicular phase. Respiratory disruptions tended higher in follicular phase, with 3 women above 5 per hour. Average age was 28 years, BMI 22.8.
What it means for you
Progesterone in the luteal phase appears to protect women's breathing during sleep. However, this was a very small study (11 women), so results need confirmation in larger studies before drawing firm conclusions.
11
Women studied
28 years
Average age
3
Respiratory disruptions in follicular phase (n>5/hr)
About the study
- Original title
- The influence of the menstrual cycle on upper airway resistance and breathing during sleep
- Authors
- Driver HS, McLean H, Kumar DV et al.
- Journal
- Sleep
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 11
- What was tested
- None (measured during two cycle phases)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/sleep/28.4.449