More women have insomnia several times a week than men. Senior women are more likely to report sleep problems over the past decade than senior men.

Sleepiness leads to weight gain by discouraging physical activity. Depression leads to overeating. Social expectations of women may contribute to the greater prevalence of sleep disorders. They are more likely to be the primary caregiver than men and more likely to shoulder a larger share of the housework. Researchers have also found that on average women get 5% less deep sleep on average than men.

In general, sleep disorders are more commen in women than in men, and they play out differently, emerging throughout the reproductive life cycle. Premenstral syndrome seems to cause both insomnia and hypersomnia. Different women experience things differently. Sleep restriction has been found to reduce menses-related depression, as has bright light therapy for insomnia.

Insomnia is a common complaint of women in menopause. Women tend to get apnea and restless legs syndrome at a lesser rate than men.

Postmenopausal women (but not premenopausal women) with sleep apnea have been found to have changes in heart EKG patterns. The changes may indiciate a higher chance of heart problems.

Bloating, which many women experience as part of their menstral cycle, contributes to insomnia.

National Women's Health Information Center on insomnia

Sleep Disorders

Dyssomnias

Parsomnias

"It’s been a hard day’s night
I’ve been workin´ like a dog
It’s been a hard day’s night
And I’ll be sleepin´ like a log…. "

(John Lennon and Paul McCartney)