In adolescence - The start of the menstrual cycle
This is the phase when women are introduced to the well-known PMS, and its symptoms are what most affect sleep quality.
Cramps, muscle or headaches, leg cramps, and bloating are common symptoms that affect 4 out of 5 women, causing them from a very young age to have more difficulty maintaining adequate sleep during this phase of life.
During pregnancy – Hormone surge
Pregnancy itself is already a highly stressful factor for a woman, both physically and emotionally. It's during this phase that progesterone levels increase considerably, causing sleep quality to decrease proportionally.
Although progesterone levels rise and theoretically induce more drowsiness, there are psychological adaptations and mechanical issues involved that can negatively impact sleep quality.
Mechanical issues include bladder compression, for example, which increases urinary urgency, as well as the growing belly that makes it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
It's also during pregnancy that women are more susceptible to other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome.
After the baby is born, hormone levels tend to adjust, as does drowsiness and potential mechanical issues related to poor sleep quality. Does this mean the woman will finally be able to sleep?
Of course not. A newborn has what we call polyphasic sleep, waking up several times during the night, which can impair the woman's sleep quality.
To give you an idea, according to study X, which evaluated more than 10,000 couples, it was found that regardless of whether it's the first, second, or third child, it takes an average of 6 years for parents to report a recovery in sleep quality.
Menopause – The drop in hormones
Here, the levels of a hormone called estradiol drop dramatically, bringing with it symptoms such as: hot flashes, mood changes, night sweats, decreased libido, and an increase in the frequency of bathroom trips to urinate.
Have you identified any of these symptoms?
Let's move on to the next session, where we'll understand the differences between menopause and perimenopause.