The Pill, the Patch, and Your Sleep: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Hormonal Contraceptives and Sleep Health

By Courtney Worley, Ph.D., ABPP, DBSM, M.P.H.

Behavioral Sleep Medicine CBT-I Insomnia

Posted: July 18, 2026

A newly published systematic review in Sleep Medicine Reviews — one of the most prestigious journals in the field — has brought into focus something that has been quietly under-researched for decades: hormonal contraceptives, one of the most widely-used medications in the world, appear to meaningfully influence how women sleep. And yet, most women have never been told this, and most healthcare providers haven’t been trained to ask. This post is about changing that conversation.

Why Sleep During Pregnancy Matters More Than You Think (And What You Can Actually Do About It)

By Courtney Worley, Ph.D., ABPP, DBSM, M.P.H.

Sleep

Insomnia Treatment CBT-I Pregnancy Perinatal Health Postpartum Health

Posted: May 12, 2026

You are growing a human. You are exhausted. And yet — somehow — you cannot sleep. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sleep disturbances affect 75% of pregnant people, peaking in the third trimester. Despite being incredibly common, poor sleep during pregnancy is often brushed off as “just part of it.” But the science tells a different story: sleep health during pregnancy is a serious maternal health issue — one that is treatable, and worth taking seriously.