---
title: How does sleep differ during the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?
description: Women with PMDD had lower melatonin and more deep sleep compared to controls. This suggests their sleep regulation may be different.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/nocturnal-polysomnographic-sleep-across-the-menstrual-cycle-in-premenstrual-2012/
---

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- How does sleep differ during the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?

Case-control study, 2012

# How does sleep differ during the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?

Women with PMDD had lower melatonin and more deep sleep compared to controls. This suggests their sleep regulation may be different.

 Early or limited evidence

7 women with PMDD reporting insomnia during luteal phase, and 5 healthy controls

## What they did

Seven women with PMDD who reported insomnia during the luteal phase and five controls slept in the laboratory every third night throughout a complete menstrual cycle. Researchers measured sleep stages and hormone levels including melatonin.

## What they found

Both groups showed increased stage 2 sleep during mid-luteal phase and decreased REM sleep during early luteal phase. Compared to controls, PMDD women had significantly increased slow-wave sleep and significantly decreased melatonin.

## What it means for you

Lower melatonin in PMDD women may be linked to their sleep problems. The main limitation is the very small sample of only 7 women with PMDD.

7

women with PMDD

5

control women

every 3rd night

measurement frequency

## About the study

Original title Nocturnal polysomnographic sleep across the menstrual cycle in premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Shechter A, Lespérance P, Ng Ying Kin NM et al. Journal Sleep medicine Year 2012 Study design Case-control study What was tested None - observational study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.05.012](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2012.05.012)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)

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