Do Women Need more Sleep than Men?

Summary: Have you ever thought why some women sleep longer than men? It is not just about rest, but something that has been proven by science. Want to know more about this amazing fact? Read our blog below to know more about women's sleep cycle compared to men.

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Sleep is something that surrounds our entire lifestyle, work, health, and well-being. It assists our brain in rebooting and in balancing our emotions. But the quantity of sleep you require may differ between men and women.

This is what we are going to do today and solve the mystery of:

Do women need more sleep than men?

There is a lot of medical research on this, studying the brain functions, hormonal challenges, emotions, behaviours, and so much more, which makes this kind of a fun fact that everyone should know about. So, let’s discuss this in detail and find out the truth and the reasons behind the answer.

Why Do Women Need More Sleep?

1. The Biological Argument: Brain Structure & Function

One of the most compelling reasons women may need more sleep is related to brain structure and functionality.

“Women’s Brains Are More Complex in Activity”

It is mainly because of:

• Multiasking
  
• Emotional processing
  
• Cognitive control
  
• Caregiving

Because of this greater mental load:

• Women may experience higher mental fatigue.
  
• Sleep becomes more important to allow deeper brain recovery.
• Poor sleep leads to more psychological distress.

2. Hormonal Cycles Play A Massive Role

It is a fact that hormones play a role in our sleep. Women are more inclined to this since their hormones undergo continuous changes, which are significantly stronger than those of men. That is why sleep becomes quite essential for women. You should also know that these hormonal fluctuations can even lead to disruptions in your sleep pattern.

The following are some crucial hormonal aspects that you should learn:

• Estrogen and progesterone vary during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
  
• You can go through insomnia or a broken sleep pattern due to Premenstrual syndrome. 
  
• During pregnancy and especially in the first trimester, you will feel discomfort at night while sleeping. 
  
• During perimenopause and menopause, you will go through hot flashes and night sweats that can make sleeping difficult for you.
  

3. Mental Load & Emotional Processing

The concept of the “mental load” refers to the often invisible and emotional labour many women carry — managing household tasks, caregiving, planning, etc.

Psychological Toll:

Women commonly ruminate, which can lead to sleep latency. More emotional processing occurs during deep sleep. Losing your sleep time means more emotional and behavioural challenges.

Lifestyle & Caregiving Responsibilities

• Irregular sleep due to baby care, eldercare, or balancing work-life stress.
  
• “Bedtime procrastination” - where women stay up late to reclaim personal time - further cuts into total sleep time.
  

Quality vs. Quantity: It's Not Just About Hours

With women, it’s not about sleep hours, but how effective it actually is. Were they able to rest fully? Did they reach the deeper stages of sleep? If not, it can lead to:

• Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
  
• Insomnia
  
• Sleep Maintenance Disorders
  

How Much Sleep Does A Woman Need?

Tips For Women For Better Sleep

Even with getting long hours of sleep, you still wake up feeling dull and tired; then it's not the hours, it's the quality of sleep that is at risk. 

There might be certain lifestyle changes that you have to make. Here are some tips that we highly recommend:

• Make a sleep routine and stick to it
  
• Use blackout curtains or blinds 
  
• Try some mediating exercises
  
• Invest in a quality memory foam mattress or a pillowtop mattress. 
  
• Avoid taking long naps during the day
  
• Limit the use of tobacco, caffeine and alcohol in the evenings
  
• Start some lightweight exercises
  
• Avoid big meals before bed
  
• Limit your screen time before bed
  

Now, if you are going through pregnancy or menopause, there are more challenges that you ladies are facing based on the hormonal changes. To improve your sleep, we highly recommend:

For Pregnancy

• Sleep on your side
  
• Create a bedtime routine
  
• Try pregnancy pillows
  
• Wear something comfortable
  
• Drink more water 
  
• Take extra care of what you eat 
  
• Take multivitamins for deficiencies 

For menopause:

• Stick to your sleep schedule
  
• Wear cooling pyjamas for those night sweats
  
• Start your hormone therapy
  
• Stop smoking
  
• Limit heavy meals
  
• Exercise daily
  
• Keep your room cool
  
• Use cotton bedsheets

The Cost Of Poor Sleep

Sleeping for a few hours or not having enough quality sleep has many adverse effects on your health and mental well-being. It can lead to:

• Depression
  
• Mood changes
  
• Hypertension
  
• Hallucination
  
• Heart attack
  
• Inability to concentrate
  
• Anxiety
  
• Diabetes
  
• Memory issues
  
• Psychiatric disorders
  
• Obstructive sleep apnea
  
• Weight gain
  
• Higher stress levels
  
• Lower sex drive

Moreover, you can have metabolic issues and think of all the physiological issues you will go through. Sleep is an important part of our everyday routine that makes our immune system stronger and brain function better. Plenty of people are associated with sleep issues like sleep apnea or insomnia. It majorly starts with losing quality sleep or disturbing your sleep cycle. That’s why it has become highly crucial to maintain a well-balanced sleep schedule to keep your body and mind healthy.

FAQs

Why do women need more sleep than men?

It is due to:

• Multitasking and emotional processing
  
• Hormonal changes impact sleep cycles
  
• Higher likelihood of stress and anxiety
  
• More caregiving responsibilities

How much more sleep do women actually need?

It can vary depending on your hormonal and cognitive changes. Mainly, it is about 20-30 minutes per night compared to men. 

• What life stages affect women’s sleep the most?
  
• Menstrual cycle – disrupted sleep
  
• Pregnancy – fatigue and discomfort
  
• Menopause – hot flashes and night sweats
  
• Motherhood – frequent night waking and irregular sleep

Are women more prone to insomnia?

Yes, roughly twice as likely as men. Hormones, stress, and mental load raise the risk of insomnia in women, and it becomes chronic unless it is dealt with properly.

Does multitasking influence sleep requirements?

Yes, it causes mental exhaustion. Women who multitask very often will also need more sleep to restore their thinking capacity.