Sleep Quality and Reproductive Health
Summary
Sleep quality and timing exert profound effects on reproductive function in both sexes through their regulation of neuroendocrine pathways. In women, adequate sleep synchronises the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, guiding folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and timely secretion of sex steroids. Disruption of sleep architecture or circadian misalignment can impair ovulation, reduce anti-Müllerian hormone levels and increase the risk of menstrual irregularities, early pregnancy loss and subfertility. In men, sleep deprivation and disordered breathing are linked to imbalances in testosterone and cortisol, diminished sperm motility and altered semen parameters. Across populations, poor sleep quality correlates with lower success rates in assisted reproductive technology, higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome and metabolic disturbances that further compromise fertility. Mechanistic studies highlight the role of gut microbiota, systemic metabolomic shifts and clock-gene expression in mediating these effects. Collectively, this body of work underlines the global significance of sleep as a modifiable factor for reproductive health and points towards screening and therapeutic interventions to optimise sleep hygiene in both clinical and public health settings.
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Sleep Quality and Reproductive Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in sleep quality and reproductive health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Circadian rhythm: 24-hour internal clock regulating physiological processes including hormone secretion and sleep–wake cycles.
Oocyte: the female germ cell or egg, whose maturation and release are critical for fertility.
Folliculogenesis: sequence of events in ovarian follicle development leading to ovulation.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): glycoprotein produced by ovarian follicles used as a marker of ovarian reserve.
Gut microbiota: community of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract influencing metabolism and systemic physiology.
Metabolomics: comprehensive analysis of metabolites in biological systems, reflecting physiological states.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART): medical procedures, such as in vitro fertilisation, used to achieve pregnancy.
Sperm motility: ability of sperm to move efficiently, a key determinant of male fertility.
References
- Sleep deprivation causes gut dysbiosis impacting on systemic metabolomics leading to premature ovarian insufficiency in adolescent mice. Theranostics (2024).
- Sleep characteristics before assisted reproductive technology treatment predict reproductive outcomes: a prospective cohort study of Chinese infertile women. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023).
- Sleep Duration, Exercise, Shift Work and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-Related Outcomes in a Healthy Population: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLOS ONE (2016).
- Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (2022).
- Impact of sleep patterns upon female neuroendocrinology and reproductive outcomes: a comprehensive review. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2022).
- Effects of Sleep Disorders and Circadian Rhythm Changes on Male Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Frontiers in Physiology (2022).
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