As a woman, have you noticed how you are still talking about your day, only to turn and find your husband already snoring? It is not that he is uninterested in what you have to say, and it is not your fault either that you can’t drift off that easily. Science suggests that women are biologically predisposed to sleep worse than men, for a variety of reasons.
ALSO READ: Sleep doctor shares 2 rules to fix sleep routine and rest better: ‘When you go to bed at 10…’
Dr Christopher J Allen, a physician in sleep medicine and pediatric neurology with 20 years of experience in the medical field, shared the real reasons why women’s sleep cycles may be affected in an April 18 Instagram post.
From hormonal changes to mental load, women face unique challenges that make restful sleep harder to achieve.
Let’s go through all of the reasons one by one.
1. Hormones
A woman’s hormonal system is far more complex, with multiple changes occurring in the body regularly, many of which come with noticeable side effects. This also impacts sleep adversely. The sleep doctor labelled hormonal changes as the ‘biggest’ reason, explaining that, unlike men, whose sleep hormones remain relatively stable, women’s hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, rise and fall with every cycle. Both play a key role in regulating the sleep cycle and determining how deep or light the sleep is. He further explained what happens before a period and during menopause: “When progesterone drops before your period, your sleep gets lighter and you wake up more. And when estrogen drops during perimenopause, your sleep fragments completely.”
2. Anxiety and depression
Moving beyond hormonal health, women’s emotional health also differs from men’s, which in turn affects sleep quality. According to the doctor, women are more vulnerable to the direct impact of mood changes, such as anxiety and depression, on their sleep.
Dr Chris explained this vulnerability in detail: “Women are twice as likely as men to have both anxiety and depression. But poor sleep makes anxiety worse, and anxiety makes sleep worse,” indicating the bi-directional influence of mood and sleep.
Moreover, stress affects men and women differently, even in the same situations. According to the doctor, a man falls asleep within 10 minutes despite experiencing stress, whereas for women, the brain tends to stay alert.
3. Caregiving mode
Since women are seen as primary caregivers, this responsibility affects their sleep. The mental load does not switch off, even at night. The doctor explained that women tend to remain more mentally alert, keeping an ear out for a baby, tending to a sick child, or keeping track of family schedules. What is the result? With so much responsibility, the brain stays in a semi-alert state during sleep, leading to lighter and more easily disrupted rest.
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
