Sueño y mujer / Sleep and Women

Introducción. Existe una estrecha relación entre las hormonas sexuales femeninas y el sueño. Esto conlleva la existencia de diferencias relacionadas con el género tanto en la estructura del sueño normal como en la incidencia de diferentes trastornos del sueño. Objetivo. Revisar los cambios en las características del sueño que experimentan las mujeres en diferentes etapas de su ciclo vital (edad fértil, menstruación, embarazo, menopausia y posmenopausia), así como las patologías del sueño más frecuentes en las que se da una mayor diferencia entre géneros (insomnio, apnea obstructiva del sueño, síndrome de piernas inquietas y narcolepsia-cataplejía). Desarrollo. En cuanto al sueño normal, se ha informado de que las mujeres tienen una mayor calidad de sueño objetiva en comparación con los hombres (mayor tiempo, menor latencia de inicio y mayor grado de eficiencia del sueño); sin embargo, se quejan más frecuentemente de problemas de sueño. Por otra parte, diferentes etapas en la vida de la mujer se asocian con importantes cambios hormonales y fisiológicos que favorecen la alteración del patrón de sueño normal y, con ello, un posible aumento del riesgo de manifestar trastornos del sueño. Conclusiones. Las razones que subyacen en las diferencias de género en los trastornos del sueño se atribuyen a las diferencias en el sueño normal, en las manifestaciones clínicas y factores de riesgo de los trastornos del sueño, y en la respuesta-dosis óptimas de tratamiento (AU)

Introduction. There is a strong link between female sex hormones and sleep. This implies the existence of sex differences both in the structure of sleep as in the incidence of various sleep disorders. Aim. To review the changes in the pattern of sleep experienced by women along different stages of their life cycle (fertile period, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and postmenopause), as well as the most frequent sleeping pathologies in which there exist more gender differences (insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy). Development. About normal sleeping has been reported a higher quality of it, in women compared with men (increased sleeping time, reduced sleep onset latency, and a greater efficiency of sleeping), but they frequently complain of sleep problems. Moreover, different stages in the life of women are associated with significant physiological and hormonal changes that favour the disruption of normal sleep pattern and by this way, possibly, increase risk to suffer sleep disorders. Conclusions. The reasons that underlie in gender differences in sleeping disorders are attributed to differences in normal sleep pattern, in the clinical manifestations and risk factors for sleep disorders, and in the results and optimal dose of treatments (AU)

[Sleep and women]. / Sueño y mujer.

INTRODUCTION: There is a strong link between female sex hormones and sleep. This implies the existence of sex differences both in the structure of sleep as in the incidence of various sleep disorders. AIM: To review the changes in the pattern of sleep experienced by women along different stages of their life cycle (fertile period, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and postmenopause), as well as the most frequent sleeping pathologies in which there exist more gender differences (insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, restless legs syndrome and narcolepsy). DEVELOPMENT: About normal sleeping has been reported a higher quality of it, in women compared with men (increased sleeping time, reduced sleep onset latency, and a greater efficiency of sleeping), but they frequently complain of sleep problems. Moreover, different stages in the life of women are associated with significant physiological and hormonal changes that favour the disruption of normal sleep pattern and by this way, possibly, increase risk to suffer sleep disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons that underlie in gender differences in sleeping disorders are attributed to differences in normal sleep pattern, in the clinical manifestations and risk factors for sleep disorders, and in the results and optimal dose of treatments.