-
Widespread Issue Across Women's Lifespan
Sleep disruption in women is a recurring issue tied closely to hormonal and life‑stage changes. Insomnia becomes nearly twice as common in women as in men after puberty¹. As many as 70% of women with PMS or PMDD report sleep issues². More than 75% experience disrupted sleep during pregnancy³, and up to 60% continue to struggle postpartum⁴. During perimenopause and menopause, 38 to 60% of women report chronic sleep problems⁵.
-
Undiagnosed Or Mistreated Majority Of The Time
Up to 90% of women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remain undiagnosed, despite its known risks⁶. In pregnancy, where OSA affects roughly 26% of women in the third trimester, about 95% are never screened meaning nearly all cases go unnoticed and untreated.⁷ It is also very common for one sleep issue to be treated while another goes unaddressed. For example, addressing insomnia with medications but ignoring underlying OSA.
-
Significantly Greater Health Impact Than Most Realize
Chronic sleep loss affects nearly every system in the body. Poor sleep significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease⁸, insulin resistance⁹, and immune dysfunction¹⁰; it disrupts hormonal regulation, worsens inflammation, and impairs cognition and emotional resilience. Sleep deprivation is also linked to reduced egg quality and fertility outcomes¹¹. Over time, it raises the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline¹² making sleep a foundational driver of long‑term health and quality of life.
References
Zhang B, Wing YK. Sex differences in insomnia: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 2006;29(1):85–93.
Baker FC, Lee KA. Menstrual cycle effects on sleep. Sleep Med Clin. 2018;13(3):283–294.
Mindell JA, Cook RA, Nikolovski J. Sleep patterns and sleep disturbances across pregnancy. Sleep Med. 2015;16(4):483–488.
Sedov ID, Cameron EE, Madigan S, Tomfohr-Madsen LM. Sleep quality during pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2018;38:168–176.
Kravitz HM, Janssen I, Santoro N, et al. Relationship of day-to-day reproductive hormone levels to sleep in midlife women. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(20):2370–2376.
Shepertycky MR, Banno K, Kryger MH. Differences between men and women in the clinical presentation of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep.
Facco FL, Ouyang DW, Zee PC, Grobman WA. Sleep disordered breathing in a high-risk cohort: prevalence and severity across pregnancy. Am J Perinatol. 2014;31(10):899–904.
Cappuccio FP, Cooper D, D’Elia L, Strazzullo P, Miller MA. Sleep duration predicts cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Eur Heart J. 2011;32(12):1484–1492.
Spiegel K, Leproult R, Van Cauter E. Impact of sleep debt on metabolic and endocrine function. Lancet. 1999;354(9188):1435–1439.
Irwin MR. Sleep and inflammation: partners in sickness and in health. Nat Rev Immunol. 2019;19(11):702–715.
Chua EC, Shui G, Lee IT, et al. Extensive diversity in circadian regulation of plasma lipids and evidence for different circadian metabolic phenotypes in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(35):14468–14473.
Yaffe K, Laffan AM, Harrison SL, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing, hypoxia, and risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older women. JAMA. 2011;306(6):613–619.
-
Majority of women have or will have a sleep disorder
More than half of women will experience a sleep disorder at some point, often connected to hormonal changes during life stages like menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause (NIH, 2020). Despite how common it is, sleep health heavily under-discussed in women’s care.
-
Most sleep disorders in women are either undiagnosed or mistreated
Women are nearly twice as likely as men to report insomnia symptoms, yet their concerns are often overlooked or attributed to stress or mood (AASM, 2019). 90% of sleep apnea cases in women are not diagnosed and only 5% of pregnant women are asked whether they snore. Recognizing gender-specific sleep patterns is key to improving care and outcomes.
-
Sleep disruptions and disorders have cascading negative health impact
Sleep quality affects much more than energy or focus. Ongoing disruptions are linked to increased risk of heart disease, depression, weight gain, and cognitive decline (CDC, 2017; NIH, 2022). Supporting better sleep is a foundational way to promote overall health and quality of life.
-
Widespread Issue Across Women's Lifespan
Sleep disruption in women is a recurring issue tied closely to hormonal and life‑stage changes. Insomnia becomes nearly twice as common in women as in men after puberty¹. As many as 70% of women with PMS or PMDD report sleep issues². More than 75% experience disrupted sleep during pregnancy³, and up to 60% continue to struggle postpartum⁴. During perimenopause and menopause, 38 to 60% of women report chronic sleep problems⁵.
-
Predominantly Undiagnosed Or Mistreated
Up to 90% of women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remain undiagnosed, despite its known risks⁶. In pregnancy, where OSA affects roughly 26% of women in the third trimester, about 95% are never screened meaning nearly all cases go unnoticed and untreated.⁷ It is also very common for one sleep issue to be treated while another goes unaddressed. For example, addressing insomnia with medications but ignoring underlying OSA.
-
Much Greater Health Impact Than Most Realize
Chronic sleep loss affects nearly every system in the body. Poor sleep significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease⁸, insulin resistance⁹, and immune dysfunction¹⁰; it disrupts hormonal regulation, worsens inflammation, and impairs cognition and emotional resilience. Sleep deprivation is also linked to reduced egg quality and fertility outcomes¹¹. Over time, it raises the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline¹² making sleep a foundational driver of long‑term health and quality of life.