Last week, as I lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, I started wondering what was going on. Why couldn’t I fall asleep? Was it stress? Perhaps a little. Thanksgiving was coming up and I had to cook dinner for my family. But, we weren’t having any guests over, so the pressure was off to make the meal perfect.
I had just started my period. Were the fluctuations in my progesterone and estrogen levels causing the sleeplessness? We know it’s a common menopause symptom, especially if you’re experiencing hot flashes and night sweats which cause you to wake up during the night. Could sleeplessness also be a symptom of menstruation?
I did a little research and found that not only were sleep issues a menopause symptom, but according to a poll done by the National Sleep Foundation, 33% of women experience changes to their sleep patterns during the week of menstruation. Why would this be?
I consulted Dr. Lark’s latest book, Hormone Revolution, where I read about progesterone and its impact on sleep. Just before your period, production of progesterone slows, and your progesterone levels decline. Dr. Lark goes on to explain that women deficient in progesterone often have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Perhaps I’ve been so sleep deprived because of my little girls, that I never noticed the connection between sleep and menstruation until now. That’s why I love this job. I learn something new everyday.