COULD your bedtime routine be affecting your ability to conceive? A new study from Guangzhou, China, suggests that it just might.
Researchers followed 1,684 couples in a prospective cohort study to explore how women’s sleep habits influence time to pregnancy (TTP). They found that irregular sleep patterns were associated with reduced fertility over time, with a statistically significant drop in fecundability observed after just four months of trying to conceive.
Among women with regular sleep schedules, those who slept longer—particularly more than 7.5 hours per night—had a higher chance of becoming pregnant. The data showed a steady increase in fecundability with increased sleep duration, with an adjusted fecundability ratio (FR) of 1.18 for longer sleepers. In contrast, those who reported insufficient sleep experienced a marked decline in reproductive potential (FR = 0.62). Going to bed later also negatively impacted fertility (FR = 0.91), though insomnia itself did not show a significant effect.
The findings highlight the importance of not just quantity, but also quality and timing of sleep when considering fertility. While many factors contribute to conception, optimizing sleep may be a simple and modifiable lifestyle change to support reproductive health.
In an age where screens, stress, and irregular schedules disrupt sleep more than ever, this study adds growing weight to the idea that better rest could be a crucial piece of the fertility puzzle.
Reference
Zhang Y et al. Sleep behaviors and time-to-pregnancy: results from a Guangzhou City cohort. Reprod Health. 2025;DOI: 10.1186/s12978-025-02106-x.
