The Matt Walker Podcast cover image

The Matt Walker Podcast

#61 - Ask Me Anything Pt.2

Nov 20, 2023
Dr. Eti Ben Simon, expert in women's health and hormones, joins Matt to answer listener questions about the relationship between sleep, hormones, and the female reproductive cycle. They discuss the challenges of hormonal fluctuations during the perimenopausal and menopausal periods, review hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and explore the link between sleep and chronic pain. They also touch on the subjective vs. objective sleep perception and the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics on sleep and mental health.
01:10:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle impact sleep, with changes in REM and non-REM sleep.
  • Chronic pain disrupts sleep patterns, reducing sleep efficiency and fragmenting sleep.

Deep dives

Sleep Changes During Menstrual Cycle and Menopause

During the menstrual cycle, there are significant sleep changes due to hormonal fluctuations. In the follicular phase, estrogen levels rise, leading to an increase in REM sleep. Conversely, during the luteal phase, progesterone levels surge, resulting in a reduction in deep non-REM sleep. The transition to menopause, known as the hairy menopausal period, is marked by erratic hormonal fluctuations, leading to sleep problems such as hot flashes and increased awakenings. Post-menopause, there is a further reduction in estrogen and progesterone, causing sleep disturbances in approximately 40-50% of women.

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