Some women suffer from a variety of symptoms associated with menstruation, such as bloating and mood swings, which cause them great discomfort.
In addition, hormonal fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle can lead to sleep problems, causing disturbances in sleep patterns and insomnia.
What causes insomnia in women during menstruation?
Here are 4 common reasons for this:
1- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
It is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that begin one to two weeks before the menstrual cycle. Most women suffer from some of these symptoms that disappear after the menstrual cycle. The severity of the symptoms ranges from mild to severe, and includes fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, and sleep disturbances.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), in which symptoms are severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
A study published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine and Disorders revealed that women who suffer from symptoms of BMDD may face sleep problems.
As a result, some women may experience various sleep-related problems before and during their menstrual cycle, causing difficulty in getting enough sleep and feeling sleepy throughout the day.
2- Body temperature changes during the menstrual cycle
Body temperature directly affects the quality of sleep, as it decreases significantly at night, allowing the body to relax and get good sleep.
But hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle lead to changes in body temperature, and some women may suffer from a high temperature or fever during or before the menstrual cycle, which negatively affects the quality of their sleep.
3- Hormonal imbalance
Insomnia often occurs at least a week before the menstrual cycle and disappears shortly after it due to hormonal fluctuations as a result of changes in the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle leading to an increase in body temperature and increased levels of anxiety, which causes sleep disturbances.
In addition, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is associated with decreased secretion of melatonin, the natural hormone responsible for inducing sleep.
4- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome occurs when a woman’s ovaries or adrenal glands produce excess amounts of male hormones (androgens).
This syndrome leads to the growth of fluid-filled cysts on the ovaries, and is often accompanied by sleep disorders such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, according to a study published by the journal Nature and Sleep Sciences. Polycystic ovary syndrome is also associated with high levels of anxiety and depression, which increases the likelihood of insomnia occurring.
What is insomnia?
The Medline Plus website of the US National Library of Medicine defines insomnia as a sleep disorder, in which a person has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night without interruption. He may also wake up early without being able to return to sleep, which leads to feeling tired during the day and causing fluctuations. In the mood.
Insomnia is classified into two types:
Acute insomnia (short-term)
It is the most common and results from some common causes, such as stress at work or family pressures, or the occurrence of a traumatic event, and usually lasts for several days or weeks.
Chronic insomnia
Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or more, and most of its cases are secondary, that is, they are symptoms or side effects of some other problems, such as some medical conditions, or the result of the use of some medications. It can also be a problem resulting from long-term stress, emotional disturbance, travel, or work. Shift system, for example.
Here are some tips for dealing with insomnia during menstruation, according to Healthline:
- Set consistent bedtime and wake-up times, even on weekends. Trying to stick to a routine during the night can help improve sleep over time.
- Try to relax before going to bed, for example by avoiding the bright lights of phones and TVs.
- Make sure the room temperature cools to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). This can help you sleep. You can achieve this by keeping the window open at night or using fans.
- Avoid drinks containing caffeine for 6 hours before bed, as one study found that consuming caffeine 6 hours before bed can disrupt and reduce sleep.
- If you think menstrual aches and pains may be contributing to your insomnia, over-the-counter pain relievers are an option you can try.
- Think about activities that make you feel tired, and try to do at least one activity during the day, such as going to the gym or walking long distances. Some people may also find that reading a heavy book is a stressful activity. The closer this activity is to your bedtime, the better. better.
- If you’re currently taking medications or supplements, check the list of ingredients and potential side effects. These medications may be the cause of your difficulty sleeping. Some cold medications, antihistamines, and corticosteroids can contribute to insomnia.