Commentary
Video
Hormonal Influences on Sleep Disorders in Women: Suzanne Bertisch, MD
The chair of the Women’s Sleep Health Task Force at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine talked about how hormonal changes across a woman’s lifespan influence the prevalence of sleep disorders. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 4 minutes
"We’re really trying to put women’s sleep health on the map, knowing that sleep disorders do present differently in women, and that there are also differences in how they are recognized and treated. There’s also a need for more research in this area. "
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) advises that adults aim for at least 7 hours of sleep per night to support overall health. However, recent research has indicated that a significant proportion of women do not consistently meet this recommendation.1 Certain sleep disorders, including chronic insomnia and restless legs syndrome, were revealed to be more frequently among women, and individuals of different sexes may describe sleep-related symptoms differently. In the data, the organization also noted that sleep disturbances in women may also be associated with hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout various stages of life.
In response to these ongoing challenges, the AASM has recently introduced a new initiative aimed at advancing sleep health in women.1 This multiphase effort, led by a dedicated task force, seeks to better understand the unique factors influencing women’s sleep and to identify strategies for improving sleep-related care. The initiative includes collaboration with professional societies, patient advocacy groups, and industry partners to raise awareness among both health care providers and the public. Planned activities include hosting a stakeholder summit, launching an educational webinar series, and participating in clinical and scientific meetings. Additional outreach efforts will involve social media engagement, podcast discussions, and contributions to research grant planning through the AASM Foundation.
Chair of the Women’s Sleep Health Task Force Suzanne Bertisch, MD, sat down with NeurologyLive® to further outline the gender-specific patterns and challenges in diagnosing and managing sleep disorders in women. Bertisch, who also serves as the clinical director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasized how hormonal fluctuations across life stages affect women’s sleep health. In the discussion, she highlighted the under recognition of atypical presentations of conditions in women and underscored the need for improved clinical awareness to address disparities in sleep disorder care.
