Today is the 15th Annual World Sleep Day – Does Sleep Affect Fertility

Today is Friday, March 18, 2022 – did you know that it’s the 15thannual World Sleep Day? This year’s slogan is “Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World.”

Sleep is one of the most critical factors when it comes to fertility. Not only does it decrease your stress and help improve your state of mind, but it also plays an important role in fertility. Studies show that regularly getting enough sleep is just as important as a healthy diet and exercise for your overall health.

Everyone requires a different amount of sleep, but most adults need between 7 and 9 hours every night. So, forget what you’ve heard about people who ‘run best on four hours a night” – they’re risking their health. And the research shows that they may also be risking their fertility.

Sleep and Fertility

When you wake up from a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed and restored. But it turns out that sleep is also refreshing your organ systems and regulating your hormones. That said, more than one-third of Britons don’t get enough sleep, which could be damaging their chances of conceiving.

Sleep affects your fertility in a number of ways. When your brain regulates your melatonin and cortisol (your sleep-wake hormones), it also triggers your reproductive hormones. These hormones, such as those that trigger ovulation (luteinising hormone – LH) and help sperm mature, are crucial for fertility. Simply put – when you don’t sleep enough, it could take you a lot longer to conceive.

Sleep and Lifestyle Factors

Of course, your hormones aren’t the only thing that can affectyour fertility. Many other lifestyle factors can affect your mood and disrupt your chances of conception. Sleep impacts your fertility in other indirect ways.

A lack of sleep

• Can make you feel moody – When you’re trying to be romantic with your partner, a lack of sleep can make you feel irritable instead.

• Can cause you to lose your sex drive – When you’re overtired, sex is often the last thing on your mind.

• Can impact your appetite – When you don’t get enough sleep, you’re more likely to make impulsive food choicesthat can mess with your blood sugar. Those junk food cravings can also lead to weight gain, which is also negatively correlated with fertility.

• Can increase your risk of diseases – A lack of sleep can increase your risk of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, all of which will decrease your fertility.

If you’re struggling with sleep, try some of these top tips:

• Get more exercise during the day, such as going for a walk or going to the gym

• Limit caffeine, and don’t have any caffeinated drinks past noon

• Turn off your screens at least one hour before bedtime

• Try meditation apps, such as Calm

• Limit alcohol – although it may help you ‘pass out,’ it massively disrupts your sleep quality

• Try having a cup of camomile tea

• Take melatonin supplements, as they have been shown to improve female fertility