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Women and Sleep
Sleep and Women's Health
Sleep boosts your mind, body, and mood. Women are more likely than men to have insomnia and other sleep problems. Changing hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect how well a woman sleeps. Learn about the common sleep problems that affect women, and get the top tips for a better sleep.
Exhausted woman sleeping
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Woman Sleeping
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Sleep affects your mental and physical health. Getting good sleep helps boost your mind and mood and can help prevent health problems. Women are more likely than men to have insomnia and other sleep problems. Changing hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can affect how well a woman sleeps. But there are steps you can take to get the rest you need.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sleep Deprivation - Toll of Sleep Deprivation
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Your mind and body are healthier when you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal. Some sleep disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome, make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. This can lead to daytime sleepiness and make it more difficult to stay in good mental health.
Having a sleep problem can also trigger a mental health condition or make current mental health conditions worse. Also, mental health conditions or treatments can sometimes cause sleep problems.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
An 8-Hour Sleep Cycle
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Most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night to feel refreshed, although women who are pregnant may need more and older adults may average less.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Depiction of a person suffering from Insomnia (sleeplessness)
Image by https://www.myupchar.com
Sleep problems that affect women more or differently from men include:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Need for Slumber
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Women may be more likely to have sleep problems because women experience hormonal changes during certain times and events that are unique to women. These include:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Can't Sleep?
Image by U.S. Air Force graphic by Senior Airman Brittany Barker
Talk to your doctor if:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Testing and Diagnosis
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To determine whether your sleep problems are caused by a sleep disorder or another mental or physical health problem, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical and sleep history. Sometimes it can take several visits to a doctor to figure out the cause of your sleep problems.
Your doctor or nurse may:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sleep Study
Also called: Polysomonography, Polysomnogram, PSG, Sleep Apnea Study
A sleep study, also known as polysomnography, is a test that measures and records different body functions while you sleep. It is used to diagnose sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.
Home Sleep Test
Also called: HST, Home Sleep Study, At-Home Sleep Apnea Test
A home sleep test is used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. During this test, you will wear special equipment that collects information about certain body functions while you sleep in your own bed. With a home sleep test, you can sleep comfortably without cords and sensors that limit your movements through the night.
Actigraphy
Also called: Actigraph
Actigraphy is a type of sleep study used to measure how well you sleep. This requires you wear a small, wristwatch-like motion sensor three to 14 days.
Drawing of a woman lying in bed reaching for medicine
Image by NIDDK Image Library
Yes, but talk to your doctor or nurse about your sleep problems before using an OTC product. Your sleep problem may be a symptom of a different medical problem that needs to be treated. Also, OTC products are not meant for regular or long-term use. If you decide to use a sleep medicine, doctors recommend that you:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sleep - Best Bets at Bedtime
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Try these tips to help improve your sleep:
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Pregnant Mother Lying with Her Baby
Image by TheVisualMD
Having a baby can make it a challenge to get enough sleep. It can take babies weeks or months to adjust to a sleeping routine or to start sleeping through the night. Also, changing hormone levels after giving birth can disrupt your sleep for a time. For some women, severe swings in hormone levels during and after pregnancy may cause a mental health condition called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can also cause trouble sleeping.
If you have a new baby, here are some ways to get more rest or get help:
If you continue to have trouble sleeping, or if you think you are depressed, talk to your doctor, nurse, or midwife.
Source: Office on Women's Health (OWH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Sleep Disrupted
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Women may be more at risk for sleep apnea during pregnancy, or during and after menopause, because of hormone changes. Hormone problems in women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may also raise the risk of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea symptoms may be different for women compared with men. Women more often have the following symptoms:
Because you may not have common sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring, you may not think that you have this condition. It is important that you talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms or if you have any risk factors for sleep apnea.
During pregnancy, changes to a woman’s upper airway or to the way the brain controls breathing raise a woman’s risk of sleep apnea or make it worse. Sleep apnea is often more serious in the third trimester of pregnancy and may improve after your baby is born. Pregnant women who are older or who have obesity have a higher risk of sleep apnea. In pregnant women, sleep apnea can cause many complications, including:
Breathing devices such as CPAP machines are safe for treating sleep apnea during pregnancy. Because pregnancy causes changes to your body, you may need to see a sleep specialist to adjust the settings of your CPAP machine during and after your pregnancy.
Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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