18/03/2025
IT'S QUESTION TIME ❓️❓️❓️
Sleep plays a critical role in reproductive health through several key mechanisms. As a fertility specialist, I've observed that adequate sleep can significantly improve fertility outcomes in both men and women.
For women, sleep disruption can impair regular ovulation by disrupting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Research shows that women with irregular sleep patterns, particularly those working night shifts, experience higher rates of menstrual irregularities and reduced fecundity. Sleep deprivation increases cortisol levels, which can suppress reproductive hormones, including GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone.
For men, studies demonstrate that insufficient sleep correlates with reduced s***m concentration, motility, and morphology. Just one week of restricted sleep (5.5 hours per night) can reduce testosterone production by 10-15%, potentially impairing s***matogenesis.
Additionally, inadequate sleep:
▪︎ Increases oxidative stress, damaging gametes
▪︎ Elevates inflammatory markers associated with reduced fertility
▪︎ Disrupts metabolic function, affecting reproductive health
▪︎ Increases insulin resistance, which impacts ovarian function
Clinically, I recommend that patients undergoing fertility treatment prioritise 7-9 hours of consistent, quality sleep. This simple intervention can enhance hormone balance, reduce stress markers, and optimise the physiological environment for conception.
