News, I’m a doctor – here’s how mapping your period could be the secret to your best ever night’s sleep: detailed suggestions and opinions about I’m a doctor – here’s how mapping your period could be the secret to your best ever night’s sleep.
PERIODS can be tough, especially when it’s not just cramps and bleeding you’ve got to deal with, but hot sweats, aching legs, and broken sleep for a week.
According to research by the National Library of Medicine, women are 40 per cent more likely to suffer a lifetime of insomnia.
Various factors can contribute to sleepless nights – from too much alcohol to restless children or a heatwave – and hormonal imbalance during the menstrual cycle can have a huge impact.
“Oestrogen, progesterone, cortisol and melatonin are the main hormones affecting sleep,” says GP Dr Sumi Soori.
“If we sleep well, when we wake up we release the appropriate amount of cortisol, which then releases the appropriate amount of oestrogen and progesterone.
“When we don’t sleep well, we don’t have the right balance of hormones, consequently we don’t sleep well. It’s a vicious cycle.”
So, how can we navigate our menstrual cycle to sleep soundly all month long?
