---
title: How do hormones affect sleep and circadian rhythms across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMDD?
description: A literature review shows sleep and circadian rhythms change across the menstrual cycle in all women, but women with PMDD have more severe disruptions during
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/sleep-hormones-and-circadian-rhythms-throughout-the-menstrual-cycle-in-healthy-2010/
---

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- How do hormones affect sleep and circadian rhythms across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMDD?

Survey study, 2010

# How do hormones affect sleep and circadian rhythms across the menstrual cycle, especially in women with PMDD?

A literature review shows sleep and circadian rhythms change across the menstrual cycle in all women, but women with PMDD have more severe disruptions during the luteal phase. Non-drug treatments that help reset circadian rhythms may improve sleep and mood.

 Early or limited evidence

Literature review examining research in healthy women and women with PMDD

## What they did

Literature review examining sleep and circadian rhythm changes across the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with PMDD, and the role of female hormones in these changes.

## What they found

Sleep and circadian rhythms vary across the menstrual cycle. Women with PMDD experience specific alterations of circadian rhythms and sleep disturbances during the luteal phase. Chronotherapy may help realign circadian rhythms and improve sleep and mood in women with PMDD.

## What it means for you

Understanding how the menstrual cycle affects sleep and body rhythms is important for treating PMDD. Non-drug approaches like adjusting sleep timing and light exposure show promise as potential treatments.

## About the study

Original title Sleep, Hormones, and Circadian Rhythms throughout the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women and Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Authors Shechter A, Boivin DB Journal International journal of endocrinology Year 2010 Study design Survey study What was tested Chronotherapy, a non-drug treatment to realign circadian rhythms Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1155/2010/259345](https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/259345) Original abstract

A relationship exists between the sleep-wake cycle and hormone secretion, which, in women, is further modulated by the menstrual cycle. This interaction can influence sleep across the menstrual cycle in healthy women and in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), who experience specific alterations of circadian rhythms during their symptomatic luteal phase along with sleep disturbances during this time. This review will address the variation of sleep at different menstrual phases in healthy and PMDD women, as well as changes in circadian rhythms, with an emphasis on their relationship with female sex hormones. It will conclude with a brief discussion on nonpharmacological treatments of PMDD which use chronotherapeutic methods to realign circadian rhythms as a means of improving sleep and mood in these women.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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