What Are The Possible Causes of Daytime Sleepiness in Women?

Feeling chronically tired or sleepy during the day can be caused by a wide range of things ranging from the common to rare. Most of the conditions are not distinct to females beyond those related to reproductive issues like pregnancy, anemia from heavy periods or menopause.

Common to Rare Causes

The most common causes of feeling drowsy or tired during the day are stress, overwork, lack of physical activity and a diet of mostly processed foods. Depression, anxiety and insomnia can also be culprits as well. Less commonly, diseases like diabetes, sleep apnea syndrome or issues with the thyroid may present with these symptoms but commonly other issues are present as well. Much less commonly, feeling tired during the day may be an early sign of a cancer or inflammatory or autoimmune disorder. Rarely is feeling tired the only symptom in these instances.

Specific to Women

Specific to women, there are reproductive-related causes of feeling tired or fatigued during the day. The most common cause is iron-deficiency anemia due to heavy periods. Another cause specific to women is pregnancy, particularly the 1st and 3rd trimester. Lastly, menopause can lead to hormonal shifts that can impact energy levels.