ABSTRACT
Sleep disorders during the menstrual cycle are common, especially before menstruation. There are two known premenstrual conditions that also involve sleep disturbances: The most familiar is premenstrual syndrome (PMS); the less well-known is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Sleep disturbances during PMS usually appear 2–3 days before menstruation, most often in the form of insomnia. The physical symptoms associated with PMS can also appear; however, in this case, it is the mental aspect that predominates. The symptoms disappear with menstruation. PMDD is almost always present with every monthly cycle and is exacerbates with age. Sleep disturbances during PMDD last about 2 weeks each month. They consist of insomnia expressed as sleeplessness, frequent episodes of waking up, or waking up in the early hours of the morning. Women suffering from PMS or PMDD will suffer from sleep disturbances in most cases.
