---
title: Does sleep affect luteinizing hormone levels? | Niyora
description: In this small study, luteinizing hormone levels decreased during sleep. When sleep timing was reversed to daytime, the hormone still decreased during sleep in
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-relationship-of-luteinizing-hormone-secretion-to-sleep-in-women-during-the-1976/
---

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- Does sleep affect luteinizing hormone levels?

Survey study, 1976

# Does sleep affect luteinizing hormone levels?

In this small study, luteinizing hormone levels decreased during sleep. When sleep timing was reversed to daytime, the hormone still decreased during sleep in the same pattern.

 Early or limited evidence

6-7 women during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle

## What they did

Six women were studied during the early follicular phase with blood collected every 20 minutes for 24 hours while sleep was monitored. During a later cycle, they were studied again with their sleep completely reversed (sleeping during day, awake at night). One additional woman was studied on a disrupted schedule with one hour sleep and two hours awake, repeated for ten days.

## What they found

In both the normal and reversed sleep studies, luteinizing hormone decreased by approximately 13 percent in the four hours after sleep started, showing the same pattern both ways. The woman on the disrupted schedule showed approximately a 52 percent decrease in luteinizing hormone during sleep, particularly during deep sleep.

## What it means for you

Luteinizing hormone appears connected to sleep itself, not to the time of day. When sleep timing changed, the hormone still followed the sleep pattern, suggesting a direct link. Main limits: very small sample (6-7 women), older 1976 study, and only one cycle phase examined.

6

Women in baseline and reversal study

13%

Decrease in hormone after sleep onset

52%

Decrease during disrupted sleep

## About the study

Original title The relationship of luteinizing hormone secretion to sleep in women during the early follicular phase: effects of sleep reversal and a prolonged three-hour sleep-wake schedule Authors Kapen S, Boyar R, Hellman L et al. Journal The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Year 1976 Study design Survey study What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1210/jcem-42-6-1031](https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-42-6-1031)

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