---
title: How does sleep relate to PMS and PMDD? | Niyora
description: The menstrual cycle affects how women sleep. Women with PMDD respond less to melatonin before their period, and sleep restriction can temporarily improve mood
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/sleep-and-premenstrual-syndrome-2016/
---

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- How does sleep relate to PMS and PMDD?

Study, 2016

# How does sleep relate to PMS and PMDD?

The menstrual cycle affects how women sleep. Women with PMDD respond less to melatonin before their period, and sleep restriction can temporarily improve mood symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

Review article, discusses women in general with focus on PMDD

## What they did

This is a review of research on how the menstrual cycle affects sleep and how sleep relates to PMDD symptoms.

## What they found

The menstrual phase of the cycle affects stage 2 and dream sleep in women. Women with PMDD have a decreased response to melatonin during the luteal phase (before the period) compared to the follicular phase (after the period starts). Sleep deprivation or sleep restriction in the early or late part of the night improved mood symptoms in PMDD.

## What it means for you

Sleep is connected to PMDD through both hormone changes and brain chemistry. Poor sleep before your period may be part of PMDD rather than a separate problem. Temporarily limiting sleep can improve mood, though this is not practical as a long-term treatment. This is a review of existing research, not a new study.

## About the study

Original title Sleep and Premenstrual Syndrome Authors Jehan S, Auguste E, Hussain M et al. Journal Journal of sleep medicine and disorders Year 2016 Study design Study Participants 2 What was tested No intervention - review of research on sleep, melatonin, and menstrual cycle Open access Yes Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28239684/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28239684/)

## 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/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)

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Cohort study, 2022

Do women with both bipolar disorder and PMDD have worse biological rhythm disruptions?

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Randomised trial, 1994

How does light therapy affect hormone levels in women with PMDD?

Survey study, 2026

Does PMS affect how well young women sleep?

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