You Don’t Sleep As Well As Your Husband Because You’re Female

Waking up an hour earlier than your male partner may not necessarily have to do with your endless nagging to-do list. Research by Livescience has revealed that women have shorter sleep cycles than men which makes them more prone to insomnia and seasonal depression. Women go to bed earlier and get up earlier too.

Women’s circadian rhythm (24 hour sleep cycle) is about six minutes shorter than men’s. Factor in the time it takes to fall asleep and wake up and women are waking up about a half an hour earlier. Women’s shorter sleeping schedule probably has a lot to do with differing estrogen levels, according to Livescience. Hormone levels change circadian rhythm quite a bit, which has proved to be evident in pre- and post-menopausal women.

Although men don’t have estrogen waking them up at seven a.m. on the dot, there is nothing to suggest that they can’t wake up just as early to swap turns on bottle feeding.