ABSTRACT
To investigate the problem of sleep in relation to menstruation, addressing only women in the childbearing period. The study included 100 women with sleep complaints excluding those above the age of 40, any history of physical or mental disorder and any marked irregular menstrual cycles. A standardized sleep questionnaire was asked and polysomnography done pre- and postmenstrual in addition to assessment for the presence of premenstrual dysphoric disorders. 100 women have been asked to reply to a questionnaire concerning sleep problems in the premenstrual period. 48 reported significant sleep complaints, including insomnia, hypersomnia and excessive daytime somnolence. 9 were found to fulfill DSM-IV criteria of premenstrual dysphoric disorder [PMDD]. 19 females including those with PMDD accepted to be evaluated by polysomnography [PSG] once in the premenstrual phase and another postmenstrual. Comparing results of sleep profile pre- and postmenstrual revealed increased sleep latency, decreased efficiency and increased arousals premenstrual, Comparing patients with PMDD to other females with premenstrual sleep complaint revealed only less SWS in PMDD. Evaluation of sleep profile in women with premenstrual sleep complaints, revealed mainly sleep continuity disturbance manifested by the significant increase in sleep latency. Overall findings are in support of considering premenstrual sleep problems as a separate diagnostic entity, at least for some females, which is still in need of further studies