Lab study, 1996
Does sleep change during different parts of the menstrual cycle?
Most aspects of sleep stay the same across the menstrual cycle in healthy women. But a specific type of brain wave pattern during sleep (sleep spindles) does vary and is highest during the luteal phase.
What they did
Researchers recorded sleep from 9 healthy young women with no PMS symptoms, measuring their sleep every second night for one full menstrual cycle. They tracked sleep quality, how long it took to fall asleep, different types of sleep, and brain wave patterns. They confirmed which cycle phase women were in using temperature, hormone levels, and other markers.
What they found
Sleep quality, mood ratings, total sleep time, how easily they fell asleep, and deep sleep amounts did not change meaningfully across the cycle. However, one specific type of brain wave (14.25-15.0 hertz, which shows up as sleep spindles) varied greatly across the cycle and was highest during the luteal phase. This brain wave pattern varied along with body temperature.
What it means for you
In healthy young women without PMS, the menstrual cycle doesn't disrupt most sleep measures, though a specific brain wave pattern does change. This was a very small study with only 9 women and no comparison group, so results may not apply to all women or to women with PMS.
138
Sleep episodes recorded
9
Number of women studied
14.25-15.0 hertz
Brain wave frequency that varied across cycle
About the study
- Original title
- Sleep and the sleep electroencephalogram across the menstrual cycle in young healthy women
- Authors
- Driver HS, Dijk DJ, Werth E et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 9
- What was tested
- None (observation only)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.2.8636295
Topics
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