Touzet, S., Rabilloud, M., Boehringer, H., Barranco, E., & Ecochard, R. (2002). Relationship between sleep and secretion of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones in women with normal cycles. Fertility and sterility. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03254-x
Touzet S, Rabilloud M, Boehringer H, Barranco E, Ecochard R. Relationship between sleep and secretion of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones in women with normal cycles. Fertility and sterility. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03254-x
Touzet, Sandrine, et al. "Relationship between sleep and secretion of gonadotropin and ovarian hormones in women with normal cycles." Fertility and sterility, 2002.
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Longer sleepers had higher FSH levels in women with normal cycles
In 106 healthy women, those who slept 8 hours or more had FSH levels about 20% higher than those who slept less. This observational study followed women with normal cycles for one to four consecutive cycles each, using daily urine samples and ultrasound to confirm ovulation.
Key Findings
Across 323 cycles, FSH levels were 20% higher in the 64 women who slept 8 hours or more than in the 42 who slept less (P=.008).
After adjusting for age and body mass index, sleep duration stayed associated with FSH level (P=.017).
Sleep duration showed no significant association with LH, estrone-3-glucuronide, or pregnanediol-3-alpha-glucuronide levels. The LH-FSH ratio was 21% lower in longer sleepers (P<.015).
The FSH difference appeared in the early follicular, periovulatory and luteal phases, and no interaction between sleep duration and cycle phase was significant.
Interpretation
Participants were healthy women aged 19 to 44, with cycles of 24 to 34 days and experience with natural family planning. Women with polycystic ovary disease, a luteal defect, or a history of fertility problems were excluded. The findings support larger studies of how sleep duration affects reproductive hormones.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine reads hormone patterns across the ovulatory cycle as clues to how the body works. Sleep duration is one everyday factor that showed a link to FSH level in these healthy women. Ultrasound confirmed the ovulation day in each cycle.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
Objective
To monitor gonadotropin and ovarian hormone levels in relation to sleep duration in normally cycling women.
Design
Observational and cross-sectional study.
Setting
Multicentric collaborative study.
Patients
One hundred six healthy and normally cycling women, aged 19 to 44 years, with cycle lengths of 24 to 34 days.
Interventions
Follow-up during one to four consecutive cycles with daily urine collection.
Main Outcome Measures
Urine concentrations of LH, FSH, estrone-3-glucuronide (E1-3-G), and pregnanediol-3-alpha-glucuronide (Pd-3alpha-G). Ultrasound determination of day of ovulation and estimation of sleep duration.
Results
We found a significant association between FSH levels and sleep duration (P=.008). Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were 20% higher in long-time sleepers than in short-time sleepers. This association persisted whatever the age or the body mass index. There was no significant association between belonging to any group and LH, E1-3-G, or Pd-3alpha-G levels.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that sleep duration could be related to FSH levels, although the study design did not allow us to establish a causal relationship nor to explain the physiological basis of the observed relationship.
