---
title: Does sleep difficulty change across the menstrual cycle? | Niyora
description: This study of 213 young women found that sleep difficulty varies across the menstrual cycle in different patterns for different women. Some had more trouble a
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/individual-differences-in-self-reported-difficulty-sleeping-across-the-menstrual-2016/
---

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- Does sleep difficulty change across the menstrual cycle?

Survey study, 2016

# Does sleep difficulty change across the menstrual cycle?

This study of 213 young women found that sleep difficulty varies across the menstrual cycle in different patterns for different women. Some had more trouble around their period or mid-cycle, while others showed no change.

 Moderate study design

213 female university students, mean age 21.29 ± 4.01 years

## What they did

Cross-sectional study with 213 female university students (mean age 21.29 years). Participants completed daily online questionnaires about sleep difficulty, mood, and physical symptoms for two consecutive menstrual cycles.

## What they found

Two patterns of menstrual cycle-related sleep difficulty emerged: some women reported more difficulty sleeping around menstruation (perimenstrual), and some in the middle of the cycle. Other women showed no cyclical changes. All psychological and vegetative symptoms, and some physical symptoms, were significantly associated with sleep difficulty.

## What it means for you

This study shows that sleep difficulty related to the menstrual cycle is not the same for all women, with individual patterns varying. The relationship between emotional and physical symptoms and sleep is strong. A limitation is that sleep was self-reported rather than objectively measured. Participants were university-aged women, so results may not apply to other age groups.

213

women studied

21.29

mean age in years

2

menstrual cycles tracked

## About the study

Original title Individual differences in self-reported difficulty sleeping across the menstrual cycle Authors Van Reen E, Kiesner J Journal Archives of women's mental health Year 2016 Study design Survey study Participants 213 What was tested None - prospective diary observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0621-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0621-9)

## Topics

[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)

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