In a nutshell
This study investigated if sleep patterns affect the ability to conceive a child (fecundability, FC). They found that having trouble sleeping may affect FC in women trying to conceive.
Some background
Infertility is an increasingly common problem. Fertility treatment is expensive and can cause stress for infertile couples. Understanding factors that may affect fertility is important. Fecundability (FC) is used to describe the ability to conceive a child. Lifestyle factors may affect FC. One important lifestyle factor is sleep.
Sleep is important for healthy bodily functions. Sleep deprivation affects up to 32% of women of reproductive age. Shift work can also have a negative impact on sleep patterns. Poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It is also associated with higher mortality risk. Some studies suggest that sleep disruption increases infertility risk in women. It is unclear if sleep patterns have an impact on FC.
Methods & findings
This study included 6,873 women who were attempting to become pregnant. None of the women were undergoing fertility treatment. Participants completed an online survey to measure their sleep patterns. The number of sleep hours was recorded. Sleep quality and patterns were also assessed. FC was determined by the time to pregnancy (TTP).
Women that slept 7 or 8 hours a night had the highest pregnancy rate (73%). This was compared to 62% in women that slept less than 6 hours and 66% in women who slept 9 or more hours per day. Women that had trouble sleeping at night had a slight reduction in FC. Shift work did not have a significant effect on FC.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that having trouble sleeping may affect FC in women trying to get pregnant.
The fine print
Sleep patterns were self-reported by patients. This means that some results may be biased. The patients in this study were not diagnosed with infertility. More studies on sleep patterns in infertile patients are needed.
What’s next?
If you have any concerns regarding fertility please consult with your physician.
Published By :
Fertility and Sterility
Date :
Jun 01, 2019
