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New study links shorter bedtimes and snoring to increased risk of decreased ovarian reserve
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Sleep problems can affect hormone levels and follicle development in women with low ovarian reserve.
A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports examined the association between sleep parameters and decreased ovarian reserve (DOR) in women seeking infertility treatment in clinics.
Although type 2 diabetes is usually considered a disease of the elderly, its early onset in young women is becoming increasingly common. Environmental pollution, industrialization, social pressure, and various medical conditions are the reasons for this increase. Ovarian reserve is a key indicator for assessing female fertility, and its decline can negatively affect reproductive outcomes.
The study included couples seeking infertility treatment at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Data were collected from July 2020 to June 2021. Participants were divided into two groups based on ovarian reserve status: DOR and non-DOR.
The researchers assessed hormone levels and follicle distribution using chemiluminescence and color ultrasound. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the STOP-Bang Questionnaire to detect obstructive apnea, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to measure daytime sleepiness.
The study included 979 women, of whom 148 were diagnosed with DOR and the mean age was 35.35 years. In the non-DOR group, the mean age was 31.70 years. Women with DOR showed significant differences in key hormonal and follicular characteristics such as follicle count, AMH, FSH, estradiol (E2) and testosterone levels, all with p-values below 0.001.
The results showed that the DOR group had a significantly shorter sleep duration, with an average of 7.35 hours, compared to 7.57 hours in the non-DOR group (p = 0.014). Significant differences were also observed for sleep latency at onset, where the DOR group had an average sleep latency of 15 minutes, compared to 22 minutes in the non-DOR group (p = 0.001).
Further analysis showed that sleep duration influenced AMH levels and follicle count, with higher levels in those who slept more than 8 hours compared to those who slept 6 hours or less (p = 0.007, 0.005, 0.030).
The study found that shorter sleep latency and snoring significantly increased the risk of DOR, especially in women over 35 years of age. These findings highlight the importance of integrating sleep assessment into infertility evaluation, which may improve reproductive outcomes, especially for women over 35 years of age.