---
title: Does the menstrual cycle affect sleep quality in women with sleep problems?
description: Yes. Women with irregular periods were 2.1 times more likely to report trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, but this study only included women who alrea
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/does-the-reproductive-cycle-influence-sleep-patterns-in-women-with-sleep-2010/
---

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- Does the menstrual cycle affect sleep quality in women with sleep problems?

Survey study, 2010

# Does the menstrual cycle affect sleep quality in women with sleep problems?

Yes. Women with irregular periods were 2.1 times more likely to report trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, but this study only included women who already had sleep complaints.

 Early or limited evidence

931 women attending a sleep clinic with sleep complaints

## What they did

931 women who came to a sleep clinic filled out questionnaires about their sleep and menstrual history, then had sleep recordings overnight to measure sleep objectively.

## What they found

Women with irregular periods were 2.1 times more likely to report sleep difficulties including trouble falling asleep and insomnia, with more light sleep and more frequent awakenings. Women on hormonal birth control had less snoring. Menopausal women with hot flushes had more restless leg complaints. Awake time was shorter in women using hormone therapy.

## What it means for you

The menstrual cycle and hormonal status affect sleep quality in women, but this study only included women already experiencing sleep problems, so findings may not apply to women who sleep well.

931

women studied

2.1

times more likely: irregular cycle and sleep trouble

## About the study

Original title Does the reproductive cycle influence sleep patterns in women with sleep complaints? Authors Hachul H, Andersen ML, Bittencourt LR et al. Journal Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society Year 2010 Study design Survey study Participants 931 What was tested Observation of sleep patterns in different menstrual and menopausal states Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/13697130903450147](https://doi.org/10.3109/13697130903450147)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

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

Lab study, 2023

Does sleep change across the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2003

How does the menstrual cycle affect women's sleep?

Survey study, 2019

Can birth control pills treat PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2001

Do changing reproductive hormones disrupt the body's internal clock and cause mood disorders?

Systematic review, 2025

Do drugs that stop ovulation help women with PMS?

Study, 2022

Which premenstrual symptoms change with the menstrual cycle in midlife women?

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