Effects of estrogens on sleep and psychological state of hypogonadal women

Abstract

A double-blind crossover study involving 16 hypogonadal women compared the effects of placebo and conjugated estrogens, 0.625 mg daily, on gonadotropin levels, symptoms, sleep patterns and psychological state. After 1 mo., serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone fell 31%, and levels of luteinizing hormone, 19%; the number of vasomotor flushes also decreased. Estrogen administration was also associated with a shorter mean sleep latency, a longer period of rapid eye movement sleep and a positive correlation between psychological intactness (as clinically ranked) and latency to sleep onset. Psychological testing, including the Clyde Mood Scale and the Gottschalk-Gleser Test indicated that estrogens caused this group to be less outwardly aggressive but more inwardly hostile.