Effects of sex steroids on sleep

Abstract

Reviews the normal temporal relationship between the secretion of each sex steroid, the circadian rhythm and sleep before dealing with any known effects on sleep. The circadian rhythm is known to be related to the secretion of many hormones some of which are secreted in association with particular sleep stages, rather than, or as well as, being simply temporally determined. Sex steroid secretions are generally synchronous with the circadian rhythm and sleep, and there is evidence that prolactin secretion is sleep-dependent. There are no other consistent changes in sleep architecture associated with the menstrual cycle. The hot sweats which disturb sleep in menopausal women are attributable to estrogen deficiency and are reduced by estrogen replacement therapy. Although it is often assumed that the psychological changes during the menopause are attributable to chronic sleep disturbance caused by hot sweats, the evidence for this is uncertain. Sex steroids have also been shown to have a role in the aetiology of obstructive sleep apnea and its treatment. It is clear that the sex steroids are all implicated in sleep and thermoregulatory processes, although we cannot as yet define their precise roles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)