Women’s Sleep Health

Overview

Women’s Sleep Health forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated program of national public education presented by The Sleep Society to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.

Women’s sleep health deserves greater recognition. Throughout life, hormonal and physiological changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the postpartum period, menopause and aging can influence sleep. Social factors, including caregiving responsibilities, work and family demands, can also affect the opportunity for healthy sleep. These influences may affect not only sleep quality but also physical health, emotional wellbeing, daily functioning and quality of life.

By increasing awareness and encouraging earlier recognition of sleep problems and sleep disorders, this initiative promotes a better understanding of the factors that can influence women’s sleep throughout life. Healthy sleep is an essential component of women’s health and deserves greater recognition in prevention, healthcare and lifelong wellbeing.

Why it matters

Women may experience sleep problems and sleep disorders differently from men, and the nature and frequency of sleep disturbance can change considerably throughout life. Insomnia is particularly common among women and may become more prominent during periods of hormonal change, including pregnancy and the transition through menopause. Other important sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome, may also be overlooked or present differently at various stages of life.

Poor sleep can affect mood, concentration, metabolic and cardiovascular health, pregnancy and maternal wellbeing, safety and overall quality of life. Greater awareness of the relationship between sleep and women’s health can encourage earlier recognition, appropriate assessment and treatment, and better long-term health outcomes.

Background

Women’s Sleep Health is observed throughout May as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative promotes greater awareness of the relationship between women’s health and healthy sleep, encouraging sleep to be recognized as a fundamental component of lifelong health, resilience and wellbeing.

Historically, some aspects of women’s sleep health have received less attention than they deserve. Sleep needs and sleep disorders can be influenced by biological, hormonal, psychological and social factors that change throughout a woman’s life. Pregnancy, parenting, menopause, aging, work and caregiving may each present different challenges to healthy sleep.

Recognizing these differences is important. Sleep problems should not simply be accepted as an inevitable consequence of being a woman, becoming a mother or growing older. Greater awareness can help women recognize when their sleep has changed, understand when professional assessment may be appropriate and make healthy sleep an important part of their overall healthcare.

Current activities

The Sleep Society and SleepSafeCanada are currently working to:

• Promote public awareness of women’s sleep health throughout the lifespan.
• Increase understanding of the relationship between hormonal and physiological changes, different life stages and healthy sleep.
• Increase awareness of sleep disorders that may be overlooked or present differently in women.
• Develop educational resources for the public, healthcare professionals, workplaces and community organizations.
• Support annual awareness activities throughout May as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar.
• Encourage collaboration with healthcare organizations, hospitals, educational institutions, governments, women’s health organizations and industry.
• Build partnerships and national support to expand the initiative across Canada.

Resources

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