The Menstrual Cycle Effects on Sleep - 08/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.jsmc.2007.10.003

Helen S. Driver, PhD, RPSGT, DABSM ^a,^b,^⁎ , Esther Werth, PhD ^c, Derk-Jan Dijk, PhD ^d, Alexander A. Borbély, MD ^e
^a Sleep Disorders Laboratory, Kingston General Hospital and Department of Medicine, Room 20-303 Richardson House, Queen’s University, 102 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
^b Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
^c Center of Sleep/Wake Disturbances, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland
^d Sleep Research Center, University of Surrey, Egerton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XP, UK
^e Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland

Corresponding author. Department of Medicine, Room 20-303 Richardson House, Queen’s University, 102 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 2V6, Canada

Abstract

Women with ovulatory cycles have a biphasic change in body temperature, reduced subjective sleep quality premenstrually and at menstruation, while sleep homeostatic mechanisms, as reflected by slow wave sleep (SWS), are unaltered. The mid-luteal phase increase in body temperature is associated with more stage 2 sleep, higher spindle frequency activity, reduced REM sleep, and elevated heart rates during sleep when compared to the mid-follicular phase. Based on a few studies the effects of oral contraceptives (OC) appear small: women taking OCs have more stage 2 compared to naturally cycling women but less SWS than naturally cycling women in the luteal phase.

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