Survey study, 2014
Does the rise in progesterone during the menstrual cycle disrupt sleep?
Yes. Sleep was more disrupted when progesterone was rising sharply and when estrone levels were higher, both linked to the time after ovulation. The study was very small with only 27 women.
What they did
27 women had their sleep recorded with a monitor for one night during their mid-luteal phase. Researchers measured hormone levels at two points in their cycle: follicular phase and mid-luteal phase.
What they found
When progesterone rose steeply from follicular to mid-luteal phase, women had more sleep disruption and waking (WASO p=0.016, Wake-Index p=0.08). Higher estrone levels were also linked to more waking. When accounting for the progesterone rise, the estrone effect on sleep disruption was lost.
What it means for you
Rising progesterone after ovulation appears linked to disrupted sleep during the luteal phase. The study was very small and measured sleep only once, so results may not apply to everyone.
27
women studied
p=0.016
progesterone rise linked to sleep disruption
About the study
- Original title
- Objective sleep interruption and reproductive hormone dynamics in the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Sharkey KM, Crawford SL, Kim S et al.
- Journal
- Sleep medicine
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- None - observational study
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2014.02.003
Topics
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