Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. Women with PCOS have a hormonal imbalance that may make it harder for them to get pregnant.

PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility. It affects as many as 5 million U.S. women of reproductive age. But PCOS affects women long after their child-bearing years too.

Studies have found links between PCOS and other health problems, including sleep apnea.

The connection between PCOS and sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes you to stop breathing during sleep. When you have OSA, your airway becomes blocked repeatedly during sleep. This limits the amount of air reaching your lungs.

One study reports that the risk for OSA is at least 5-to-10-fold higher in women with PCOS compared to those without PCOS.

Long-term, untreated sleep apnea can contribute to a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes.

This is important because women with PCOS are often insulin resistant, which increases their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, more than half of women with PCOS develop type 2 diabetes by age 40.

Research has found that women with PCOS may be more likely to experience poor sleep quality or chronic daytime sleepiness. These may be symptoms of OSA.

If you feel tired or unrefreshed after waking up even though you have had a full night of sleep, it may be due to OSA. During the day, you may feel fatigued, have difficulty concentrating or may even unintentionally fall asleep. This is because your body is waking up many times during the night when you have OSA.

Untreated sleep apnea may worsen other PCOS symptoms. Researchers have suggested that treating OSA may positively impact the health and quality of life with PCOS by reducing the risk of health problems such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

The leading treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of OSA, contact an accredited sleep center near you for an evaluation.

Medical review by Reeba Mathew, MD, FCCP

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Authored by:

Kate Robards