---
title: Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?
description: Yes. Girls who sleep less and have more sleep problems report worse menstrual pain, irregular periods, and more premenstrual symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-between-sleep-and-menstrual-problems-in-early-adolescent-girls-2024/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?

Cohort study, 2024

# Is there a link between sleep and menstrual problems in teenage girls?

Yes. Girls who sleep less and have more sleep problems report worse menstrual pain, irregular periods, and more premenstrual symptoms.

 Strong study design

3,037 post-menarcheal teenage girls, average age 13, from U.S. ABCD Study

## What they did

They analyzed data from 3,037 teenage girls (average age 13) from the U.S. ABCD Study who had started their periods. They examined sleep behavior from self and caregiver reports, and menstrual problems including irregular cycles, premenstrual symptoms, and menstrual pain. They adjusted for years since first period, race, ethnicity, parental education, and body mass index.

## What they found

26.2% reported moderate-severe premenstrual symptoms and 20.8% reported moderate-severe menstrual pain. 23.3% reported irregular cycles and 15.9% reported heavy flow. Shorter sleep was linked to greater menstrual pain (β = -0.19), irregular cycles (β = -0.17), and premenstrual symptoms (β = -0.04). Higher sleep disturbance was linked to greater pain (β = 0.18) and worse symptoms (β = 0.03). Later wake times were linked to greater pain (β = 0.14). Girls who started their periods recently had less pain and fewer symptoms.

## What it means for you

Sleep problems and shorter sleep may contribute to worse menstrual pain and premenstrual symptoms in teenage girls. Sleep should be checked and addressed in healthcare for teenagers with menstrual problems. The main limit is this is observational, so we cannot be certain sleep causes better menstrual health.

26.2%

reported moderate-severe premenstrual symptoms

20.8%

reported moderate-severe menstrual pain

3,037

teenage girls

## About the study

Original title The relationship between sleep and menstrual problems in early adolescent girls Authors Kiss O, Arnold A, Weiss HA et al. Journal Sleep science and practice Year 2024 Study design Cohort study What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s41606-024-00111-w](https://doi.org/10.1186/s41606-024-00111-w)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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

Survey study, 2024

Does poor sleep and period problems affect teen mental health?

Survey study, 2019

What lifestyle and sleep habits are linked to PMS in teenage girls?

Survey study, 2005

Does being a morning or evening person affect premenstrual symptoms?

Survey study, 2025

Do menstrual problems and poor sleep affect mood and thinking in teenage girls?

Survey study, 2017

Does painful menstruation affect adolescent girls' mood, emotions, sleep, and thinking?

Survey study, 2026

Do adolescents have pain in multiple body areas during periods and does this connect to other symptoms?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗