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Cited by 529Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatigueMenstrual Health and Disorders

Circadian rhythms, sleep, and the menstrual cycle

Baker, Fiona C., Driver, Helen S.·2007·Sleep Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.sleep.2006.09.011
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Abstract

Women with ovulatory menstrual cycles have a circadian rhythm superimposed on the menstrual-associated rhythm; in turn, menstrual events affect the circadian rhythm. In this paper, we review circadian rhythms in temperature, selected hormone profiles, and sleep-wake behavior in healthy women at different phases of the menstrual cycle. The effects on menstrual cycle rhythmicity of disrupted circadian rhythms, for example, with shiftwork and altered circadian rhythms in women with menstrual-related mood disturbances, are discussed. Compared to the follicular phase, in the post-ovulation luteal phase, body temperature is elevated, but the amplitude of the temperature rhythm is reduced. Evidence indicates that the amplitude of other rhythms, such as melatonin and cortisol, may also be blunted in the luteal phase. Subjective sleep quality is lowest around menses, but the timing and composition of sleep remains relatively stable across the menstrual cycle in healthy women, apart from an increase in spindle frequency activity and a minor decrease in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during the luteal phase. Disruption of circadian rhythms is associated with disturbances in menstrual function. Female shiftworkers compared to non-shiftworkers are more likely to report menstrual irregularity and longer menstrual cycles. There also is accumulating evidence that circadian disruption increases the risk of breast cancer in women, possibly due to altered light exposure and reduced melatonin secretion. Further investigations into the biological consequences of circadian disruption in women will offer insight into some menstrual-associated disorders, including mood changes, as well as reproductive function and possible links with breast cancer.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.sleep.2006.09.011

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  • By excluding female participants, we eliminated some uncertainty in the data that could have resulted from the female menstrual cycle.

    “However, by excluding female participants we also eliminated some uncertainty in the data that could have resulted from the female menstrual cycle (e.g., influences on the core body temperature; [74]).”

    From Preliminary Results: The Impact of Smartphone Use and Short-Wavelength Light during the Evening on Circadian Rhythm, Sleep and Alertness (2021) · cites this paper as [74]

  • Homeostatic sleep mechanisms are maintained throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women.

    “The most consistently observed menstrual cycle-related changes in the sleep profile of healthy women are a reduction of REM sleep [49, 51–53, 56], with a maintenance of homeostatic sleep mechanisms throughout the cycle [90], and a robust variation of SFA across the menstrual cycle [48, 49, 55], which increases in association with progesterone during the LP.”

    From Sleep, hormones, and circadian rhythms throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy women and women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (2010) · cites this paper as [90]

  • Core body temperature is lower in the early morning and has its greatest increase in the afternoon, with up to a 1 °C difference.

    “In the early morning, the temperature is lower with the greatest increase in the afternoon, which can be up to a 1 °C difference [135,136,137,138,139,140].”

    From The Current State of Optical Sensors in Medical Wearables (2022) · cites this paper as [137]

  • Core temperature changes are affected by circadian rhythms.

    “Core temperature changes are affected by circadian rhythms.”

    From The Current State of Optical Sensors in Medical Wearables (2022) · cites this paper as [137]

  • The increase in spindle frequency activity in the luteal phase may be in part a result of increased core body temperature, although progesterone and its metabolites likely also have a direct effect on spindle generation.

    “The well-characterized increase in spindle frequency activity in the luteal phase [86–88] may also be, in part, a result of increased core body temperature [89], although progesterone and its metabolites likely also have a direct effect on spindle generation [84].”

    From Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle (2020) · cites this paper as [86]

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Authors
Baker, F. C., & Driver, H. S.
Affiliations
  • SRI International (US)
  • University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
Corresponding author
Baker, Fiona C.
ORCID
Venue
Sleep Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-09
Volume
8
Issue
6
Pages
613-622
ISSN
1389-9457 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.sleep.2006.09.011
OpenAlex
W2007208714
Semantic Scholar
0ff66a26061f0e995b0d2ce625682fff65c84d6c
Cited by
529
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 53 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 8
FWCI
5.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Sleep Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Menstrual Health and Disorders
Keywords
circadian rhythm, menstrual cycle, sleep-wake behavior, body temperature rhythm, luteal phase, follicular phase, melatonin, cortisol, sleep spindles, REM sleep, shift work, menstrual irregularity, breast cancer risk, light exposure, reproductive function
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Health Status, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Melatonin, Menstrual Cycle, Sleep, Wakefulness, Women's Health

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