The most recent statistics on the women who participate in our Illinois Women’s Health Registry, indicate that sleep is a significant issue in their lives.  Among the most current women who are enrolled in our registry, 11% report difficulties getting to sleep, 12% have a hard time staying asleep, 15% wake up feeling fatigued, 13% report they are getting too little sleep for what they need, and 8% wake too early and cannot get back to sleep.

Our limited knowledge in sex differences is due to the fact that women are underrepresented in studies of sleep and its disorders.  The National Sleep Disorders Research Plan, released in 2004 by the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research reported that 75% of sleep research has been conducted in men.   While more recent sleep studies have included women, the small sample sizes limit sex comparisons.  However, there is a growing body of evidence that sex hormones influence sleep and circadian rhythms, and further neuroendocrine studies are needed.

To read more on women and sleep on the Institute for Women's Health Research, click here.

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Interestingly, as an Asian women I have strange sleeping patterns. I get up very early to start my housework before going to work. This means I am up at 4am and in bed by 8pm. This is quite anti social for my family. Many of my friends do the same as this is what we used to do back in our home country.

African Women and Cameroonian women in particular are entering into the dance of less sleep.The rates of women losing sleep are alarming.The lack of sleep which was at first thought to be a condition only for the rich or the wealthy class is now affecting everybody.I think we have to do something in other to remedy the situation.

I believe that one of the major causes of sleep difficulties is stress. Our roles in the home, mother, wife, nurse, carer, chief cook and bottle washer and a million and one other things, coupled with work commitments and the daily commute, brings stress and whilst stress affects everyone to some degree, the pressures on woman are extreme. The worrying thing about this is that there seems to be no solution in sight and whilst, we should be able to sleep like babies after our typically exhausting day, stress often keeps us awake with the constant thoughts that go through our minds.

Perhaps, science has yet to ascertain the reasons for sleeplessness among men and women. Obviously, increasing sedentary life is one of main reasons for reduced sleep. Proper exercise is necessary to keep the body in good shape and condition and to get sound sleep.

I suffered from sleeping problems with all the associated problems like not being able to loose weight and not being able to cope with my duties as a working mother of three. It was only when I cut back on activities, that things got better. Now I realize that my day only has 24 hours and I can´t cram in too much. I now plan time to relax as I plan activities for me and the kids, and I am considerably happier and healthier!

Not surprisingly, many women have trouble sleeping with our modern busy lifestyles. This article will show you how this can negatively affect weight loss efforts, and explain tips and tricks to help solve the problem.

I am one of the women who wake up after a few hours sleep and then struggle to get back to sleep. Perhaps more research is needed in this area.

I believe that sleep issues are caused by many thing, stress being one of them. Proper diet and exercise also go a long way in getting better sleep. Proper exercise will improve circulation and work the muscles which will lead to better sleep.

This article was great new information for me, I've bookmarked it so I can come back and read it again. First is the idea that men and women experience sleep differently. Both my husband and I struggle with depression so that was helpful. And I am really glad to find a place that is focusing on women's health research, there is so very little of it going on still.