The report, titled “Exploring Sex and Gender Differences in Sleep Health,” was authored by SWHR Director of Scientific Programs Monica Mallampalli, PhD, MS, and SWHR Vice President of Scientific Affairs Christine Carter, PhD, MPH. Access the report at SWHR.org.
“Our findings show that women sleep differently than men and that sleep health, especially for women, needs greater national attention. A variety of biological, environmental and social factors influence how women and men experience sleep differently,” said Dr. Carter. “We need to know more about these factors so we can tailor better lifestyle recommendations and medical treatments to account for those differences. SWHR believes that, for both men and women, sleep should be as important as diet and exercise for overall health.”
“Hormonal and physical changes during a woman’s lifespan, such as during puberty, pregnancy and menopause, can impact her sleep and lead to clinical disorders. If a woman is concerned about her sleep health, she should bring up her concerns with her primary care physician,” said Dr. Mallampalli. “Sleep hygiene is critically important for both men and women. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time, which may sound simple, is often hard for women to do given their daily responsibilities, often as primary care givers.”
SWHR makes a series of recommendations in the report for future sleep research, including:
• Examine sex differences in how hormones may affect sleep• Understand how gender differences impact the diagnosis of sleep disorders• Compare different treatment options for menopausal sleep disturbances• Determine how to manage sleep disorders during pregnancy• Develop better screening techniques to analyze women’s sleep patterns
In addition, Dr. Mallampalli was recently interviewed on NBC’s Today Show about women’s sleep health. See the video at SWHR.org.
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The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR®), the national thought leader in the study of sex differences in disease, is dedicated to transforming women’s health through science, advocacy and education. SWHR® advocates for increased public and private funding for women’s health; greater inclusion of women and minorities in medical studies; and analysis of the biological differences between men and women in disease and health issues.
The “Exploring Sex and Gender Differences in Sleep Health: A Society for Women’s Health Research Report” and the SWHR Interdisciplinary Network on Sleep have been made possible with generous funding from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit SWHR.org.
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