---
title: Does the menstrual cycle change your body clock and sleep? | Niyora
description: Yes. Body temperature, hormone rhythms like melatonin and cortisol, and sleep quality all shift across the cycle, with the most noticeable changes after ovula
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/circadian-rhythms-sleep-and-the-menstrual-cycle-2007/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle change your body clock and sleep?

Review, 2007

# Does the menstrual cycle change your body clock and sleep?

Yes. Body temperature, hormone rhythms like melatonin and cortisol, and sleep quality all shift across the cycle, with the most noticeable changes after ovulation and around menses, based on a review of past studies rather than new data.

 Early or limited evidence

Healthy women with regular ovulatory cycles, plus comparisons with female shiftworkers (review of existing studies).

## What they did

The authors reviewed existing research on circadian rhythms (body temperature, hormone levels, sleep-wake patterns) in healthy women at different menstrual cycle phases, and in shiftworkers.

## What they found

In the luteal (post-ovulation) phase, body temperature is higher but its daily rhythm is flatter; melatonin and cortisol rhythms may also be blunted. Sleep quality feels worst around menses, though overall sleep timing stays stable, apart from more spindle activity and slightly less REM sleep in the luteal phase. Female shiftworkers report more irregular, longer menstrual cycles than non-shiftworkers, and circadian disruption is linked to higher breast cancer risk.

## What it means for you

The findings suggest disrupted body clocks could be connected to period-related mood changes and reproductive health, but this is a summary of other people's research, not a new experiment, so it cannot prove cause and effect.

## About the study

Original title Circadian rhythms, sleep, and the menstrual cycle Authors Baker FC, Driver HS Journal Sleep medicine Year 2007 Study design Review What was tested None tested; this is a review. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2006.09.011](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2006.09.011)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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