--- title: Do women with fibromyalgia have more reproductive problems and sleep problems? description: Yes. Women with fibromyalgia were significantly more likely to have PMS, period pain, and sleep problems, and were less physically active and reported more se url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/women-s-health-issues-with-fibromyalgia-syndrome-2006/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with fibromyalgia have more reproductive problems and sleep problems? Survey study, 2006 # Do women with fibromyalgia have more reproductive problems and sleep problems? Yes. Women with fibromyalgia were significantly more likely to have PMS, period pain, and sleep problems, and were less physically active and reported more sexual dysfunction. Early or limited evidence 442 women with fibromyalgia syndrome and 205 women without ## What they did Telephone survey comparing 442 women with fibromyalgia syndrome to 205 women without, looking at health status, reproductive diagnoses, sleep-related diagnoses, and lifestyle behaviors. Results were adjusted for age, BMI, race, employment, marital status, education, income, and depression history. ## What they found Women with fibromyalgia were significantly more likely to have PMS, dysmenorrhea, breast cysts, bladder cystitis, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and abnormal leg movements. They used less than half the calories per week (689 versus 1499 kcal per week), had more sleep difficulties and negative changes in sexual function, and had lower alcohol use. ## What it means for you If you have fibromyalgia, you should be screened for reproductive problems including PMS. Doctors should also look for sleep problems and assess physical activity and sexual function. Main limits: cross-sectional design cannot prove fibromyalgia causes these problems; data was self-reported by telephone; cannot be certain the groups were similar in other important ways. 442 Women with fibromyalgia 205 Women without fibromyalgia 689 vs 1499 cal Physical activity per week ## About the study Original title Women's health issues with fibromyalgia syndrome Authors Shaver JL, Wilbur J, Robinson FP et al. Journal Journal of women's health (2002) Year 2006 Study design Survey study Participants 442 What was tested No intervention; observational comparison Read the paper [doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2006.15.1035](https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2006.15.1035) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Libido and sexual function](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sexual-function/)[Chronic pain and fibromyalgia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-chronic-pain/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Survey study, 2026 What factors are linked with period pain in teenage girls in Ethiopia? Survey study, 2021 How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect women's menstrual cycles and symptoms? Cohort study, 2026 How are meal timing and sleep timing associated with PMS symptoms and menstrual pain? Survey study, 2025 How common are painful periods and PMS in medical students and how much do they affect their lives? Survey study, 2022 Does the menstrual cycle affect how well women sleep? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗