Do You Know Women Need More Sleep Than Men? Here’s Why

Everyone needs to get enough sleep. However, compared to men, women typically need more sleep. According to research, women typically tend to get an extra 11–20 minutes each night. There are several scientific reasons for this, such as Hormone changes, increased mental load and frequent changes in sleeping patterns. According to the Sleep Foundation, female bodies experience changes in hormones like estrogen and progesterone during menstruation, childbirth or later stages of life. And these are reasons for a disrupted sleeping cycle in women.

Additionally, research from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University suggests that women's brains may work harder due to their daily multitasking, necessitating more rest at night. In addition, more women experience stress, depression, or difficulty falling asleep, which disrupts their sleep. Due to all of this, women typically need a little more sleep in order to wake up feeling completely rejuvenated.

In this article, we have explained the science behind this, based on reliable studies and trusted health-care sources.

Why Women Need More Sleep Than Men?

Why women need more sleep than men (Image: Canva)

1. Brain Complexity and Multitasking

According to a study led by Jim Horne at Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University, women frequently access deeper brain zones daily as a result of multitasks. Because additional areas light up during the day, they require a little more rest afterwards

2. Hormonal Fluctuations

During a woman's monthly cycle, during pregnancy, and even during menopause, hormones like progesterone and estrogen change. Sleep is less restorative when hormone levels rise and then fall. This causes some women to take more naps or lie in bed longer to feel caught up.

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3. Higher Risk of Sleep Disorders

Women are more likely than men to have insomnia and conditions like restless leg syndrome (RLS). These disorders disrupt sleep, forcing women to make up for lost rest.

4. Mental Health Factors

Women are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and stress, which immediately disrupts their sleep. Women may need more sleep without even realising it because poor mental health causes sleep to be fragmented, resulting in numerous tiny awakenings.

5. More Time in Deep Sleep

Women spend a greater proportion of their nights in deep sleep, which is highly restorative, according to some large studies (using polysomnography or sleep trackers). Women may be benefiting from slightly longer sleep because deep sleep promotes brain and body repair.

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Why Sleeping Matters To Women?

Understanding that women may need a few extra minutes of sleep can help them plan better rest. It dispels the misconception that getting more sleep is "lazy" because it is biological. This knowledge can help medical professionals provide better sleep hygiene advice, particularly for women who are dealing with hormonal or mental health issues.