Sleep-Deprivation Linked to Infertility - Trying to Conceive

Victoria · 09-10-2009, 01:26 AM

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ed-infertility

August 19, 2009, Sleep
Sleep Linked to Infertility
New report shows that sleep can affect a woman's ability to conceive.

Correction: Sleep-deprivation linked to infertility. (I had a feeling that would get your attention.) Did you ever consider that? How could you with all the other things to worry about:

You've cut down on alcohol, caffeine, and even processed food.
You've scheduled more time to relax and tried to reduce the stress in your life.
You've started a consistent exercise routine and detoxified your house.
You've charted your monthly cycle, bought ovulation kits, and still...nothing.

But you've overlooked one very important element: sleep, which you don't get enough of.

The word "infertility" can quickly generate a response, especially among the 10 percent (more than 6 million) of women struggling with it. The topic routinely graces the covers of magazines and academic health reports. Lately, the talk about toxins in our food, water, and air have been blamed for increasing the likelihood of infertility. But what if it's much simpler than that? What if infertility can be partly blamed on how many hours of sleep you get a night. OR hours you don't get?

A new report puts the spotlight on exactly this issue. The highlights:

• Missing your required number of sleep hours a night can impact your ability to conceive.
• The average woman (30 to 60 years old) gets only 6 hours 41 minutes of sleep during the work week, according to the National Sleep Foundation, when she really needs 7 to 9 hours.
• Sleep has a powerful influence on the body's hormonal system, which controls a woman's cycle and regulates ovulation.
• Too little sleep leads to low leptin levels, the hormone responsible for appetite and which can impact ovulation.
• Insomniacs have a significantly higher level of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotropic, both of which can suppress a healthy fertility cycle.

The take-home message is clear: you could be doing "everything right" when it comes to preparing your body to conceive and bring a healthy baby to term. But with so much focus on external factors like your environment and what you put in your mouth, the time has come to add another aspect to this big equation: sleep. All the healthy, pure food in the world and all the attention to getting your body into tip-top prenatal shape won't cure a hormonal system gone awry from missing sleep. So if you're thinking of having a baby, put sleep on the list. At the top. And if you're going to worry about your environment, remember to also think about the one in the bedroom.

Victoria · 09-10-2009, 01:26 AM

Maybe I ought to stop staying up til 3am and waking up at 8am.

=Mrs.AiNokeA= · 09-10-2009, 01:29 AM

haha I'll have to remember this. I've been getting crap sleep because I tend to go to sleep at 2am and wake up at 7am to chat online with DH.

Victoria · 09-10-2009, 01:31 AM

LOL Stacey!

I won't dare show the article to my husband. He'll probably get an attitude with me, because I've stayed up late A LOT.

=Mrs.AiNokeA= · 09-10-2009, 01:35 AM

haha Yeah don't show it to him... I wouldnt' show it to my DH either. He'll make me go to bed early and I'll end up just tossing and turning.

I'm just so used to staying up late that it's hard to go to bed early.

Victoria · 09-10-2009, 01:37 AM

Originally Posted by =Mrs.AiNokeA=

haha Yeah don't show it to him... I wouldnt' show it to my DH either. He'll make me go to bed early and I'll end up just tossing and turning.

I'm just so used to staying up late that it's hard to go to bed early.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I wouldn't be able to surf SOS on my phone, while laying in bed.

Am · 09-10-2009, 01:38 AM

That honestly scares me. I never sleep. I mean it's past 2:30am now and I have a 9:30 class.

Just another reason to wait until after college to make babies.

Victoria · 09-10-2009, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by CarolinaHokie

That honestly scares me. I never sleep. I mean it's past 2:30am now and I have a 9:30 class.

Just another reason to wait until after college to make babies.

LMAO!!!! If I knew this, I'd use sleep deprivation as a form of birth control!

I mean, I've been off bc since January and still nada!

=Mrs.AiNokeA= · 09-10-2009, 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by Victoria

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I wouldn't be able to surf SOS on my phone, while laying in bed.

I can't do that but I end up going to bed and getting back up because I can't sleep. Then I surf SOS a bit more and go back to bed.

I know I should try and go to sleep earlier before my DH gets back but I know I'm going to end up just staying awake lol.

Originally Posted by CarolinaHokie

That honestly scares me. I never sleep. I mean it's past 2:30am now and I have a 9:30 class.

Just another reason to wait until after college to make babies.

You're going to be sooo tired when you get to class.

Am · 09-10-2009, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by =Mrs.AiNokeA=

You're going to be sooo tired when you get to class.

I usually go to bed around 4. I'm a freak. I don't sleep. I guess whenever we start trying, I'll have to learn how.

09-10-2009, 01:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Victoria Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34,195 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 96% Longevity: 55%	Sleep-Deprivation Linked to Infertility http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ed-infertility August 19, 2009, Sleep Sleep Linked to Infertility New report shows that sleep can affect a woman's ability to conceive. Correction: Sleep-deprivation linked to infertility. (I had a feeling that would get your attention.) Did you ever consider that? How could you with all the other things to worry about: You've cut down on alcohol, caffeine, and even processed food. You've scheduled more time to relax and tried to reduce the stress in your life. You've started a consistent exercise routine and detoxified your house. You've charted your monthly cycle, bought ovulation kits, and still...nothing. But you've overlooked one very important element: sleep, which you don't get enough of. The word "infertility" can quickly generate a response, especially among the 10 percent (more than 6 million) of women struggling with it. The topic routinely graces the covers of magazines and academic health reports. Lately, the talk about toxins in our food, water, and air have been blamed for increasing the likelihood of infertility. But what if it's much simpler than that? What if infertility can be partly blamed on how many hours of sleep you get a night. OR hours you don't get? A new report puts the spotlight on exactly this issue. The highlights: • Missing your required number of sleep hours a night can impact your ability to conceive. • The average woman (30 to 60 years old) gets only 6 hours 41 minutes of sleep during the work week, according to the National Sleep Foundation, when she really needs 7 to 9 hours. • Sleep has a powerful influence on the body's hormonal system, which controls a woman's cycle and regulates ovulation. • Too little sleep leads to low leptin levels, the hormone responsible for appetite and which can impact ovulation. • Insomniacs have a significantly higher level of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotropic, both of which can suppress a healthy fertility cycle. The take-home message is clear: you could be doing "everything right" when it comes to preparing your body to conceive and bring a healthy baby to term. But with so much focus on external factors like your environment and what you put in your mouth, the time has come to add another aspect to this big equation: sleep. All the healthy, pure food in the world and all the attention to getting your body into tip-top prenatal shape won't cure a hormonal system gone awry from missing sleep. So if you're thinking of having a baby, put sleep on the list. At the top. And if you're going to worry about your environment, remember to also think about the one in the bedroom.

09-10-2009, 01:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
=Mrs.AiNokeA= I just give up already... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 25,914 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 65% Longevity: 65%	haha I'll have to remember this. I've been getting crap sleep because I tend to go to sleep at 2am and wake up at 7am to chat online with DH. __________________ Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality. -- Michael Ellner

09-10-2009, 01:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
=Mrs.AiNokeA= I just give up already... Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 25,914 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 65% Longevity: 65%	haha Yeah don't show it to him... I wouldnt' show it to my DH either. He'll make me go to bed early and I'll end up just tossing and turning. I'm just so used to staying up late that it's hard to go to bed early. __________________ Just look at us. Everything is backwards; everything is upside down. Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religions destroy spirituality. -- Michael Ellner

09-10-2009, 01:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Am CarolinaHokie Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: VA/NC Posts: 12,796 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 94% Longevity: 28%	That honestly scares me. I never sleep. I mean it's past 2:30am now and I have a 9:30 class. Just another reason to wait until after college to make babies. __________________

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09-10-2009, 01:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
Victoria Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34,195 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 96% Longevity: 55%	Maybe I ought to stop staying up til 3am and waking up at 8am.

09-10-2009, 01:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Victoria Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 34,195 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 96% Longevity: 55%	LOL Stacey! I won't dare show the article to my husband. He'll probably get an attitude with me, because I've stayed up late A LOT.