Sleep Disorders Show Up Differently In Women: Here's When To See A Specialist

General sleep advice is great and all, but there's a level of nuance that's been lacking in sleep conversations—particularly around sleep struggles that are unique to women.

At least some of the sleep differences between men and women are thought to be a matter of biology. The hormonal shifts2 that women experience through puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and perimenopause are all known to impact sleep quality.

There's also a social element at play. Generally speaking, there's an expectation put on women to care for others—which can leave them with less time to care for themselves. Jam-packed schedules leave us stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed come bedtime.

Afolabi-Brown notes that some medical sleep disorders are also more prevalent in women than men. Restless leg syndrome is one of them, which can be related to iron deficiencies3 that are much more common among people who menstruate. Women are also as much as twice as likely to have insomnia, fueled by anxiety and neurodevelopmental differences like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (also common and underdiagnosed in women).

Years of male-dominant diagnostic criteria also mean that many women with sleep disorders are slipping through the cracks. "Obstructive sleep apnea is often missed in women," Afolabi-Brown gives as an example, since so many people's idea of a sleep apnea patient is a middle-aged man who snores loudly and is likely overweight. In reality, she says, women can be just as likely to develop it (especially during pregnancy4), but it might manifest as disrupted sleep, headaches, and insomnia instead of the hallmark snoring.

Since women are at a slight disadvantage in the sleep department, it's even more important for us to prioritize our sleep all day long.

One way to do so, Afolabi-Brown says, is to build breaks into your schedule (like, actual breaks). "We have to create pauses in the day—and we have to do so intentionally," she says. "The day is not going to give that to us." In addition to taking breathers throughout the day, carving out time for a consistent wind-down routine, or "buffer zone," before bed is key. It doesn't have to take all night: Meditating, journaling, and taking a hot bath or shower are all nightly rituals that pack a lot of relaxation into a short amount of time, Afolabi-Brown notes.

Intentionally building your "sleep drive," or sleep pressure5, throughout the day is also essential. Just like the pressure cooker in your kitchen fills with steam, your body's desire to sleep builds throughout the day. Ideally, it reaches its peak around your bedtime, when you can "release the valve" and get some rest before starting the building process over again the next day.

Structuring your day with breaks and sleep pressure-building activities can go a long way in enhancing your sleep at night. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, avoiding certain foods and alcohol before bed, and taking a well-formulated sleep supplement (ideally one that's hormone-free, so not melatonin) are all ways for women to support their sleep health.