The Effects of Night Shift Work on Health Across the Menstrual Cycle: a Pilot Study

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how sleep deprivation affects women's health during different phases of the menstrual cycle. The study focuses on healthy young women with regular menstrual cycles who do not use hormonal contraceptives. It aims to understand how natural hormonal changes, especially fluctuations in estrogen, influence responses to sleep loss and stress in areas like metabolism, brain function, the immune system, and microbiota. Participants will experience an adaptation night, followed by an 8-hour sleep opportunity and then a night of total sleep deprivation. Various devices such as EEG monitors, metabolic systems, and fertility trackers will be used to collect detailed data during these conditions. The study will examine changes across the menstrual cycle to capture the impact of sleep deprivation. Throughout the study, participants will undergo multiple assessments including brain health measurements, metabolic and glucose function tests, immune profiling, and vaginal microbiota analyses. Researchers will also monitor stress responses, hormone levels, appetite, and vigilance. The study involves monitoring over one to four years depending on the specific outcome measure, with close tracking of sleep and wake states using wearable technology and other devices.

The Effects of Night Shift Work on Health Across the Menstrual Cycle