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Review
. 2015 Aug:22:78-87.
doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2014.10.005. Epub 2014 Oct 18.

Sleep, sleep disturbance, and fertility in women

Jacqueline D Kloss  1 , Michael L Perlis  2 , Jessica A Zamzow  3 , Elizabeth J Culnan  3 , Clarisa R Gracia  4
Affiliations
Review

Sleep, sleep disturbance, and fertility in women

Jacqueline D Kloss et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2015 Aug.

Abstract

Sleep and sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized as determinants of women's health and well-being, particularly in the context of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. At present, however, little is known about whether fertility is affected by sleep quantity and quality. That is, to what degree, and by what mechanisms, do sleep and/or its disturbances affect fertility? The purpose of this review is to synthesize what is known about sleep disturbances in relation to reproductive capacity. A model is provided, whereby stress, sleep dysregulation, and circadian misalignment are delineated for their potential relevance to infertility. Ultimately, if it is the case that sleep disturbance is associated with infertility, new avenues for clinical intervention may be possible.

Keywords: Circadian; Infertility; Insomnia; Reproductive health; Reproductive hormones; Sleep; Sleep disturbance; Women's health.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Causes of Female Infertility a. Prevalence data presented are based on the World Health Organization (WHO) task force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility (90) b. The chart on the left represents three broad classifications of the etiologies (hormonal dysregulation; anatomical or functional reproductive organ abnormalities; unexplained or unknown causes); the chart on the right denotes sub-classifications of these categories. c. To our knowledge, the prevalence of the causes of female factor infertility have yet to be comprehensively and concurrently delineated. For example, a comprehensive accounting of population prevalence would include at least the following factors: hormonal dysregulation, anatomical or functional reproductive organ abnormalities, unexplained or unknown conditions, lifestyle and environmental influences, disease and iatrogenesis.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Stress, sleep dysregulation, and circadian dysrhythmia as potential pathways for infertility
Note: The model is focused on the three factors explicated in this article. Other pathways are likely, if not probably, including, lifestyle, environmental, and disease factors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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