Lab study, 2023
Does sleep change across the menstrual cycle?
No clear difference in healthy women. Objective sleep measurements remained stable across the menstrual cycle. Women approaching menopause reported feeling they slept worse overall compared to younger women, though their actual sleep duration was similar.
What they did
56 healthy women (31 reproductive stage, 25 early menopause) wore a sleep-tracking ring across a full ovulatory menstrual cycle. The ring measured sleep time, efficiency, awakenings, body temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Women kept sleep diaries and had mood assessments during four cycle phases: menses, ovulation, mid-luteal, and late-luteal.
What they found
Objective sleep measurements did not change across the menstrual cycle in either age group. Self-reported sleep quality and mood remained stable. Body temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability showed expected changes across the cycle. Women in early menopause reported worse sleep quality overall but had similar objective sleep to younger women.
What it means for you
In healthy women without premenstrual or mood complaints, sleep measured objectively does not change across the menstrual cycle. Findings may not apply to women with PMS or PMDD, who were excluded from the study. Women approaching menopause may feel they sleep worse, but actual sleep duration and continuity remain similar to younger women.
56
women total
31
reproductive stage women
25
women in early menopause
About the study
- Original title
- 0111 Wearable-based Measures of Sleep Across the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women in the Reproductive Stage and Early Menopause
- Authors
- Elisabet Alzueta, Marie Gombert, Leticia Camacho et al.
- Journal
- SLEEP
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 56
- What was tested
- None. Researchers tracked sleep continuously with a wearable device.
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad077.0111
Topics
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