Have you noticed your sleep patterns differ from your partner's? Well, there could be a reason. Men and women sleep differently, and one sex needs more sleep than the other. As sleep experts, we share how much sleep differs between men and women and the thoughts and disagreements that keep all of us awake.
Women need 11 minutes more sleep each night than their male counterparts or 77 minutes more each week. The amount of sleep varies between individuals, with their day-to-day life, work, and even household responsibilities all affecting their ability to sleep soundly. This could be one reason why women need more sleep than men.
Unfortunately, however, women rate their sleep as of lower quality than men. One study revealed that women reported more fluctuations in overall sleep quality, corresponding to changes in their menstrual cycle.
Women lose more sleep over their lifetime
Many studies have detailed the link between the menstrual cycle and sleep, with โperiod insomniaโ occurring up to a week before menstruation. Another study discovered that women could lose up to 2.5 days of sleep per night each month. This equates to a staggering 1,200 nights of sleep over 40 years, the average amount of time a person menstruates in their lifetime.
Alongside the study revealing womenโs sleep quality is rated as lower than menโs, they also discovered that this could be due to the association between anxiety and depression, which are twice as likely to occur in women than men. Similarly, women are also more likely to suffer from insomnia, which can mean women struggle to fall asleep easier than men and are more prone to nighttime awakenings.
However, men and trans men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, as testosterone levels can also trigger sleep issues. Testosteron
e therapy could even potentially aggravate sleep apnea, leading to impacted sleep quality.
While there are clear differences in overall sleep quality, do we share similarities in the thoughts that keep us up at night? Or do different sexes sleep easier at night?
Women lose more sleep over their lifetime
Many studies have detailed the link between the menstrual cycle and sleep, with โperiod insomniaโ occurring up to a week before menstruation. Another study discovered that women could lose up to 2.5 days of sleep per night each month. This equates to a staggering 1,200 nights of sleep over 40 years, the average amount of time a person menstruates in their lifetime.
Alongside the study revealing womenโs sleep quality is rated as lower than menโs, they also discovered that this could be due to the association between anxiety and depression, which are twice as likely to occur in women than men. Similarly, women are also more likely to suffer from insomnia, which can mean women struggle to fall asleep easier than men and are more prone to nighttime awakenings.
However, men and trans men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, as testosterone levels can also trigger sleep issues. Testosteron
e therapy could even potentially aggravate sleep apnea, leading to impacted sleep quality.
While there are clear differences in overall sleep quality, do we share similarities in the thoughts that keep us up at night? Or do different sexes sleep easier at night?
However, men and trans men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, as testosterone levels can also trigger sleep issues. Testosteron e therapy could even potentially aggravate sleep apnea, leading to impacted sleep quality. While there are clear differences in overall sleep quality, do we share similarities in the thoughts that keep us up at night? Or do different sexes sleep easier at night?
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