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Another sleepless night? Insomnia — trouble falling or staying asleep, waking up too early, or feeling tired even after 7 to 8 hours of sleep — is almost twice as common among women than men. Results of a recent National Sleep Foundation poll showed that more than half of women had experienced one or more insomnia symptoms during the preceding month. Why? Insomnia is clearly related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or the menopausal transition (the change from having periods to having no periods). However, depression, stress, worry, family and work demands, and sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome (RLS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) — not unique to women — also can interrupt sleep.