![]() Many women report more difficulty falling asleep and maintaining sleep. 9ĭuring the third trimester of pregnancy women see a decrease in total sleep time, while increased insomnia and nocturnal awakenings as well as increased daytime sleepiness are common. Forty percent of pregnant women report symptoms of sleep disorders snoring, sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. ![]() Thirty percent of pregnant women rarely or never get a good night's sleep, while 84 percent experience a sleep problem a few nights per week, compared to 67 percent of women overall. 8 Measurements of upper airway resistance have shown a lower resistance in the luteal phase. 7 In the luteal phase, when the influence of progesterone is maximum, upper airway muscle activity decreases and the tongue muscle activity increases, improving the opening of the upper airway during that portion of the cycle. Progesterone is related to decreased upper airway muscle activity. ![]() 6 Progesterone increases the latency to REM sleep and decreases the proportion of REM sleep. On average, the cycle is 28 days long with a range between 21 and 35 days.Įstrogen decreases REM sleep in rats, but in humans exogenous exposure to estrogen increases REM sleep. When pregnancy fails to occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and the lining of the uterus is shed into the vagina during days one to six of the menstrual cycle, a phenomenon identified as menstruation. The luteal phase ensues as the egg travels via the fallopian tubes to the uterus where it finds a receptive lining facilitated by increasing levels of progesterone. On day 14, the ovary releases the egg in response to an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH), a process that is known as ovulation. Simultaneously, the ovarian follicles grow in response to the action of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), but only one follicle will develop into a mature egg. Estrogen levels are higher in the follicular phase between days six and 14 of the cycle, when the endometrium grows and thickens. Menstruation is controlled by hormonal changes, which in turn may affect sleep. Here, we take a closer look at issues unique to women and how to approach them. The menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause are the principal modifying factors. 5 Women go through phases in their life-cycle that increase the risk of sleep disturbance. 2-4 And yet, only 40 percent of women sleep well almost every night, while 46 percent of women complain of trouble sleeping almost every night. 1 They have more deep sleep, a slower age-related decline in delta activity, the marker of deep sleep, and twice as many sleep spindles. In general, women sleep better than men do.
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