Getting Enough Sleep When You’re Trying to Conceive
Who doesn’t love a good nap? The good news is, if you’re trying to conceive, you now have a good excuse to take a few naps, and, more generally, get plenty of sleep. Your body needs lots of rest to be at its healthy best and to keep hormone levels balanced. If you’re trying to get pregnant, getting enough sleep becomes particularly important.
Sleep is linked to your hormones and ovulation cycle
Sleep doesn’t just make you feel rested; it’s connected to many parts of your body, including your hormones. One particularly important hormone linked to sleep is leptin, a hormone that helps to regulate ovulation. Women who don’t get enough sleep have lower leptin levels, which can lead to an irregular menstrual cycle.
Sleep helps to reduce stress
✨ Trying to Conceive?
Our Ovulation & Fertility Bundle combines Myo-Inositol with essential vitamins to support healthy hormone balance and regular ovulation.
Shop Now — $55.00✓ Free shipping on orders over $40 | ✓ Trusted by millions of couples worldwide
You probably already know that stress can affect your fertility. More specifically, stress leads to higher levels of the hormones cortisol and adrenocorticotropic, which interfere with a normal fertility cycle. When you’re trying to conceive, it’s important that you take steps to reduce anxiety and stress. Getting enough sleep is paramount to keeping stress levels down. And if you’re having a stressful day, you can use an afternoon nap to help you relax!
Nap in moderation
Napping can be a great way to give your body some extra rest and relax, but the most important thing your body needs to be rested is a regular sleep schedule. To accomplish this, you should aim to sleep for between 7 and 9 hours every night, and try to go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day. This puts your body in synch with its circadian rhythm, a natural response your body has to the patterns of day and night. If you take long naps and then don’t feel sleepy at night, you may be throwing off your circadian rhythm. To avoid this, keep your naps under 45 minutes as a general rule.
Rest easier with Conceive Plus®
Conceive Plus® products are available in pharmacies, drug stores, fertility clinics and even supermarkets in over 70 countries around the world helping millions of couples to get pregnant. Each day more and more trust our products to support their journey of starting or expanding their family.
🌱 Support Your Fertility Journey
Conceive Plus fertility supplements are clinically formulated to help regulate your cycle and support egg quality.
Shop Fertility Support →Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended by Fertility Experts
Conceive Plus Men's Fertility Support
Designed to support healthy sperm production, motility, and overall male reproductive health with clinically studied nutrients.
Shop Now →How does sleep deprivation affect fertility and ovulation?
Sleep deprivation lowers leptin levels, a hormone crucial for regulating ovulation and maintaining a regular menstrual cycle. When you don't get enough sleep, your body struggles to maintain hormonal balance, which can lead to irregular periods and reduced fertility. Studies have shown that women sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night may experience disrupted ovulation patterns.
Can stress from poor sleep affect my chances of getting pregnant?
Yes, inadequate sleep increases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone, both of which interfere with your normal fertility cycle. Getting sufficient rest helps reduce these stress hormones and supports your body's ability to conceive. This is why sleep quality and duration are considered important factors in fertility preparation by reproductive endocrinologists.
Is it okay to take naps while trying to conceive?
Short naps can be beneficial for stress reduction and overall rest, but they should be kept under 45 minutes to avoid disrupting your circadian rhythm. The most important factor is maintaining a consistent sleep schedule of 7-9 hours nightly, with regular bedtimes and wake times. Long or frequent napping may interfere with nighttime sleep quality, which is counterproductive to your fertility goals.
How many hours of sleep do I need per night when trying to conceive?
The American Aca
What is circadian rhythm and why does it matter for fertility?
Your circadian rhythm is your body's natural 24-hour cycle that responds to patterns of daylight and darkness, regulating sleep, hormones, and body temperature. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule keeps your circadian rhythm in sync, which supports proper hormonal function essential for ovulation and fertility. Disrupting this rhythm through irregular sleep patterns or excessive napping can interfere with your reproductive hormones.
Should I talk to my doctor about sleep and fertility?
Yes, if you're trying to conceive and experiencing sleep issues, it's worth discussing with your ob-gyn or a fertility specialist, as sleep disorders can impact fertility. Your healthcare provider can assess whether conditions like sleep apnea or insomnia are affecting your ability to conceive and recommend appropriate treatment. Many fertility clinics now consider sleep quality as part of their comprehensive fertility evaluation.
Trusted by Couples in Over 70 Countries
Support Male Fertility From the Inside Out
Male fertility is just as important as female fertility in the conception journey. Conceive Plus Men's range delivers targeted nutritional support to promote healthy sperm and overall reproductive wellbeing.
Shop Men's Range →
