Oxytocin may protect against mood swings from poor sleep

Oxytocin may protect against mood swings from poor sleep | Image Credit: © nicoletaionescu – © nicoletaionescu – stock.adobe.com.

Oxytocin may significantly reduce the risk of mood disturbances linked to disrupted sleep, alongside hormonal shifts caused by key reproductive transitions such as postpartum and menopause, according to a recent study presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, California.¹

The results highlighted a significant increase in both mood disturbances and oxytocin levels among patients with disrupted sleep. However, an increase in oxytocin levels before sleep led to reduced changes in mood the next day.

“These results point toward oxytocin as a potential biological buffer during periods of hormonal and emotional vulnerability,” said Irene Gonsalvez, MD, associate psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Oxytocin as a protective mechanism

Postpartum and menopause are transition periods associated with significant fluctuations in hormone levels. These often lead to frequent interruptions in sleep, yet this issue is often viewed as a slight inconvenience rather than a major health concern. The new data highlights significant changes in emotional health linked to these sleep disruptions.

There were 38 healthy premenopausal women included in the final analysis. The trial period included 2 inpatient protocols lasting 5 nights each. The first of these occurred during a natural hormonal state, while the second took place following estradiol suppression.

Participants underwent 2 nights of uninterrupted sleep, followed by 3 nights of sleep fragmented by researchers. This allowed for the simulation of patterns patients may experience in the postpartum or menopausal periods. During these protocols, researchers evaluated participants’ oxytocin levels and mood disturbances.

Oxytocin’s dual role in sleep and mood

Alongside a link between sleep disruptions and increased oxytocin levels the next day, mood disturbances associated with sleep disruptions led to higher oxytocin levels. However, increased oxytocin levels before sleep remained linked to decreased mood disturbances the next day.

“Millions of women struggle with mood symptoms during reproductive transitions, yet treatments often focus narrowly on antidepressants or hormone therapy,” said Gonsalvez. “Understanding oxytocin’s potential as a natural mood modulator could help us better support women’s mental health during these times.”

Shifts in mood are only one of multiple health and well-being risks associated with disrupted sleep, as a 2024 study found increased odds of memory and thinking issues later in life among patients with disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s.²

Broader risks of disrupted sleep

Sleep duration and quality were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and midlife cognition through the 5 tests relative to cognitive health. The association between these factors was determined through multivariable logistic regression.

Among participants aged a mean 40.1 ± 3.6 years at baseline, the odds of poor midlife cognition were worsened 3-fold in those from the lowest tertile of sleep. In comparison, no changes in cognitive performance were reported among patients in moderate sleep fragmentation index categories.

This data highlighted additional negative impacts from disrupted sleep. However, the study was limited by a small sample size and a follow-up period of only 11 years.

“Our findings indicate that the quality rather than the quantity of sleep matters most for cognitive health in midlife and that the measures of sleep should go beyond self-report,” wrote investigators.

References

1. Oxytocin may reduce mood changes in women with disrupted sleep. The Endocrine Society. July 12, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1090409.
2. Derman C. Disrupted sleep in 30s and 40s linked to cognitive problems later. Contemporary OB/GYN. January 9, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024.