Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Women with Sleep Apnea Have Lower Levels of Sex Hormones

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sleep and Breathing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: Low levels of sex hormones, especially progesterone, are suspected as a risk factor for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Objective: To test the hypothesis that serum levels of progesterone, estradiol, and 17-OH progesterone are lower in those women with clinically significant SDB. Design: Clinical cohort of convenience. Setting: University Hospital Sleep Laboratory. Methods: We investigated sleep and breathing parameters and serum levels of sex hormones in 53 consecutive women (ages 24 to 72 years) being evaluated for symptoms of daytime sleepiness. Analysis of hormonal status by specific radioimmunoassays and fluorescence immunoassays was done from blood samples taken after an overnight polysomnography. Results: Across the cohort, taking account of age and cycle time or postmenopausal status, those with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) greater than 10/hrs of sleep had significantly lower levels of 17-OH progesterone, progesterone, and estradiol than those with an AHI less than 10. Conclusion: We conclude that reductions in female sex hormones are associated with an increased probability of SDB in women with daytime sleepiness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Popovic RM, White DP. Upper airway muscle activity in normal women: influence of hormonal status. J Appl Physiol 1998;84:1055–1062

    Google Scholar 

  2. White D, Douglas N, Pickett C, Weil J, Zwillich C. Hypoxic ventilatory response during sleep in normal premenopausal women. Am Rev Respir Dis 1982;126:530–553

    Google Scholar 

  3. Regenstein QR. Sleep apnea in menopause. Menopause 1999;6:186–187

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jordan AS, Catcheside PG, O’Donoghue FJ, Saunders NA, McEvoy RD. Genioglossus muscle activity at rest and in response to brief hypoxia in healthy men and women. J Appl Physiol 2002;92:410–417

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jordan AS, Catcheside PG, O’Donoghue FJ, Saunders NA, McEvoy RD. Ventilatory decline after hypoxia and hypercapnia is not different between healthy young men and women. J Appl Physiol 2000;88:3–9

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dancey DR, Hanly PJ, Soong C, Lee B, Hoffstein V. Impact of menopause on the prevalences and severity of sleep apnea. Chest 2001;120:151–155

    Google Scholar 

  7. Thurnheer R, WraithPK, Douglas NJ. Influence of age and gender on upper airway resistance in NREM and REM sleep. J Appl Physiol 2001;90:981–988

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zhou XS, Shahabuddin S, ZahnBR, Babcock MA, Badr MS. Effect of gender on the development of hypocapnic apnea/hypopnea during NREM sleep. J Appl Physiol 2000;89:192–199

    Google Scholar 

  9. Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J, Weber S, Badr S. The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med 1993;328:1203–1205

    Google Scholar 

  10. Redline S, Kump K, Tishler PV, BrownerI, Ferrett V. Gender differences in sleep-disordered breathing in a community-based sample. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1994;149:722–726

    Google Scholar 

  11. Kripke DF, Ancoli-Israel S, KlauberMR, Wingard DL, Mason WJ, Mullaney DJ. Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in ages 40–64 yrs: a population-based survey. Sleep 1997;20:65–76

    Google Scholar 

  12. Young T, Shahar E, NietoFJ, et al. Predictors of sleep-disordered breathing in community-dwelling adults: the Sleep Heart Health Study. Arch Intern Med 2002;162:893–900

    Google Scholar 

  13. Block AJ, Wynne JW, Boysen PG. Sleep-disordered breathing and nocturnal oxygen desaturation in postmenopausal women. Am J Med 1980;69:75–79

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gislason T, Benediktsdottir B, Björnsson JK, KjartanssonG, Kjeld M, Kristbjarnarson H. Snoring, hypertension, and the sleep apnea syndrome: an epidemiologic survey of middle-aged women. Chest 1993;103:1147–1151

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bixler EO, Vgontzas AN, Lin HM, et al. Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in women. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001;163:608–613

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cheryl KP, Regensteiner JG, Woodward WD, Hagerman DD, Weil JV, Moore LG. Progestin and estrogen reduce sleep-disordered breathing in women. J Appl Physiol 1989;66:1656–1661

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cistulli PA, Barnes DJ, Grunstein RR, Sullivan CE. Effect of short-term hormone replacement in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in postmenopausal women. Thorax 1994;49:699–702

    Google Scholar 

  18. Montplaisir J, Lorrain J, Denesle R, Petit D. Sleep in menopause: differential effects of two forms of hormone replacement therapy. Menopause 2001;8:10–16

    Google Scholar 

  19. American Academy of Sleep Medicine Task Force Report. Sleep-related breathing disorders in adults: recommendations for syndrome definition and measurement techniques in clinical research. Sleep 1999;22:667–689

    Google Scholar 

  20. Young T. Menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and sleep-disordered breathing: are we ready for the heat?. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001;163:597–598

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Center for Sleep Disorders Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

    Nikolaus C. Netzer M.D. & Kingman P. Strohl M.D.

  2. Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

    Arn H. Eliasson M.D.

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    Nikolaus C. Netzer M.D.

  4. Clinic for Sleep Disorders Bayerisch Gmain, Reichenhallerstr. 20, D-83457, Bayerisch Gmain, Germany

    Nikolaus C. Netzer M.D.

Authors
  1. Nikolaus C. Netzer M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arn H. Eliasson M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kingman P. Strohl M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nikolaus C. Netzer M.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Netzer, N.C., Eliasson, A.H. & Strohl, K.P. Women with Sleep Apnea Have Lower Levels of Sex Hormones. Sleep Breath 7, 25–29 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-003-0025-8

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-003-0025-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation