Despite our best efforts, sometimes getting those 8 hours of ZZZ’s just seems impossible. Well your menstrual cycle hormones might have something to do with it!
Yup! The ups and downs in hormones throughout our menstrual cycles can create fluctuations in our sleeping patterns. While these patterns of sleep disturbance may not be exactly the same for everyone across their menstrual cycle, many people have a hard time sleeping leading into Phase One. Progesterone is a natural sleep aid, so for some of us the low levels of progesterone in Phase One escalate our sleep problems. Beyond missing out on the benefits progesterone may have on our sleep, there is another menstrual cycle hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that is thought to increase how much you wake up throughout the night. So when FSH levels rise in Phase One we see this correlation to more restless sleep.
Ready for the good news? Since most sleep disturbances, whether it be your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep, are related to the change in progesterone levels, you’re likely to only find yourself counting sheep for the first few days of your period.
Science, Feminism and Love.
Haufe A, Leeners B. Sleep Disturbances Across a Woman's Lifespan: What Is the Role of Reproductive Hormones? J Endocr Soc. 2023;7(5):bvad036.
Baker, F. C., & Lee, K. A. (2018). Menstrual Cycle Effects on Sleep. Sleep medicine clinics, 13(3), 283–294.
