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November 24, 2017
For those hoping to conceive, getting a good night’s sleep is crucial. A recent study by Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) found that women suffering from chronic insomnia may experience hormonal imbalances, increasing their risk of infertility by 3.7 times compared to the general female population. The impact is most significant for women aged 26 to 30—their prime reproductive years.
According to the Taiwan Society of Sleep Medicine, the prevalence of chronic insomnia in Taiwan is approximately 11.3%, meaning one in ten people suffers from it, with older adults and women being the most affected.
Dr. Wang Yi-duo, a pulmonologist at TSGH involved in the study, noted that recent research has highlighted how shift work among medical staff can disrupt circadian rhythms and raise infertility risks. Chronic insomnia similarly disrupts these rhythms, but until now, no study had confirmed a direct link between sleep disorders and infertility.
Statistics show that nearly 20% of Taiwanese women aged 25 to 44 struggle with long-term insomnia. Dr. Wang explained that chronic insomnia not only impairs brain function and reduces melatonin secretion but may also lead to hormonal imbalances, heightening infertility risks.
TSGH’s Department of Pulmonology chief Peng Zhong-kan and an obstetrics research team analyzed National Health Insurance data from 2000 to 2010, focusing on 16,000 female patients aged 20 to 45 who had sought treatment for sleep disorders but had no prior infertility issues. The study confirmed that chronic insomnia does elevate infertility risks in women, with findings published in the international journal *Sleep* in November.
The research revealed that infertility risks gradually emerge after six years of insomnia, with affected women facing a 3.718 times higher risk than those without sleep issues.
Among different age groups, insomnia had the strongest impact on women aged 26 to 30—their peak fertility years—with infertility risks 5.146 times higher than average. For women aged 31 to 35, the risk was 3.356 times higher.
While infertility risks naturally increase with age in the general population, the opposite trend was observed among insomniacs. Women aged 20 to 25 had a staggering 15.349 times higher infertility risk compared to those aged 41 to 45.
Dr. Wang suggested that this anomaly might stem from higher rates of anxiety and depression among younger women (12% in the 20–25 age group versus 8% in the 41–45 group), likely due to work-related stress contributing to both insomnia and infertility.
Dr. Liu Yong-liang, an obstetrician at TSGH involved in the study, noted that modern lifestyles—high work pressure, delayed marriage, and later childbearing—have led to infertility affecting one in six or seven couples. Causes may include male sperm issues or female uterine and ovarian conditions.
Dr. Liu advised women to maintain healthy routines, avoid shift work, eat more fruits and vegetables, and engage in aerobic exercise to boost cellular health. He recommended conceiving before age 32, the optimal reproductive window, and seeking early medical evaluation for infertility to check for uterine, ovarian, or sleep-related disorders.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……E3- 7% E5% 80% 8D- 020331316. html
Chronic Insomnia Raises Infertility Risk in Women by 3.7 Times
For those hoping to conceive, getting a good night’s sleep is crucial. A recent study by Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) found that women suffering from chronic insomnia may experience hormonal imbalances, increasing their risk of infertility by 3.7 times compared to the general female population. The impact is most significant for women aged 26 to 30—their prime reproductive years.
According to the Taiwan Society of Sleep Medicine, the prevalence of chronic insomnia in Taiwan is approximately 11.3%, meaning one in ten people suffers from it, with older adults and women being the most affected.
Dr. Wang Yi-duo, a pulmonologist at TSGH involved in the study, noted that recent research has highlighted how shift work among medical staff can disrupt circadian rhythms and raise infertility risks. Chronic insomnia similarly disrupts these rhythms, but until now, no study had confirmed a direct link between sleep disorders and infertility.
Statistics show that nearly 20% of Taiwanese women aged 25 to 44 struggle with long-term insomnia. Dr. Wang explained that chronic insomnia not only impairs brain function and reduces melatonin secretion but may also lead to hormonal imbalances, heightening infertility risks.
TSGH’s Department of Pulmonology chief Peng Zhong-kan and an obstetrics research team analyzed National Health Insurance data from 2000 to 2010, focusing on 16,000 female patients aged 20 to 45 who had sought treatment for sleep disorders but had no prior infertility issues. The study confirmed that chronic insomnia does elevate infertility risks in women, with findings published in the international journal *Sleep* in November.
The research revealed that infertility risks gradually emerge after six years of insomnia, with affected women facing a 3.718 times higher risk than those without sleep issues.
Among different age groups, insomnia had the strongest impact on women aged 26 to 30—their peak fertility years—with infertility risks 5.146 times higher than average. For women aged 31 to 35, the risk was 3.356 times higher.
While infertility risks naturally increase with age in the general population, the opposite trend was observed among insomniacs. Women aged 20 to 25 had a staggering 15.349 times higher infertility risk compared to those aged 41 to 45.
Dr. Wang suggested that this anomaly might stem from higher rates of anxiety and depression among younger women (12% in the 20–25 age group versus 8% in the 41–45 group), likely due to work-related stress contributing to both insomnia and infertility.
Dr. Liu Yong-liang, an obstetrician at TSGH involved in the study, noted that modern lifestyles—high work pressure, delayed marriage, and later childbearing—have led to infertility affecting one in six or seven couples. Causes may include male sperm issues or female uterine and ovarian conditions.
Dr. Liu advised women to maintain healthy routines, avoid shift work, eat more fruits and vegetables, and engage in aerobic exercise to boost cellular health. He recommended conceiving before age 32, the optimal reproductive window, and seeking early medical evaluation for infertility to check for uterine, ovarian, or sleep-related disorders.
Source: https:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E……E3- 7% E5% 80% 8D- 020331316. html