Nida Naeem, Umar Ali Khan, Ghulam Mustafa, Ayyaz Ahmed, Mahvash Khan, Munazza Asad.
Effect of serum estrogen levels on sleep habits of females.
Isra Med J Jan ;6(2):61-5.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sleep habits in pre and postmenopausal females and to find out the relationship between sex hormones and sleep habits. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PLACE & DURATION: The study was conducted in Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi and was completed in 1 year (1st March 2010 to 28th February 2011). METHODOLOGY: A total of 60 females were randomly selected out of which 30 were premenopausal (Group) and 30 were postmenopausal (Group B) females. The sleep habits were assessed by sleep questionnaire and blood sample was taken for serum estrogen levels and were analyzed by enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay (ELFA) technique. RESULTS: The comparison between pre and postmenopausal females was done on the basis of their sleep habits and statistically significant results were found which showed that postmenopausal females had lesser sleep duration than premenopausal females (p=0.011). Postmenopausal females had more frequency of nocturnal arousals than premenopausal females (p<0.01), postmenopausal females awoke in morning without an alarm while most of the premenopausal females needed an alarm to woke up (p= 0.000) and postmenopausal females woke up earlier in the morning than premenopausal females (p=0.000). Serum estrogen levels of postmenopausal females were lower than premenopausal females (p= 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that the serum estrogen levels affect the sleep pattern of females across the menstrual cycle and menopause. As the serum estrogen levels decline after menopause; the sleep habits of females get affected and have relatively poor sleep quality as compared to premenopausal females.

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