A recent study published in Scientific Reports examined the connection between sleep parameters and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in women seeking infertility treatment. Conducted at the Center of Reproductive Medicine, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, the study included 979 women, of whom 148 were diagnosed with DOR. Researchers assessed ovarian reserve through hormone levels (FSH, AMH, estradiol) and ultrasound methods (follicle count), while evaluating sleep quality using tools like the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the STOP-Bang Questionnaire, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The results revealed significant differences between the DOR and non-DOR groups, particularly in sleep onset latency and sleep duration. Women with DOR had a shorter time to fall asleep (15 minutes vs. 22 minutes) and less sleep overall (7.35 hours vs. 7.57 hours). Furthermore, sleep duration and onset latency were linked to key ovarian markers, with those who slept more than eight hours or had a sleep onset latency between 30-44 minutes showing better ovarian health. Logistic regression analysis identified sleep latency, age, and PSQI scores as independent risk factors for DOR, with snoring and sleep latency being particularly significant for women over 35. The study suggests that integrating sleep assessments into infertility evaluations could help improve reproductive outcomes, especially for older women. Given the rising rates of infertility among younger women, understanding the potential impact of sleep disturbances on ovarian health is critical for advancing fertility treatments.
November 6, 2024
