Sleep Disruption and Shift Work Associate with Increased Risk of Reproductive Endocrine Disorders: Evidence from UK Biobank and Mendelian Randomization

Abnormal sleep duration, insomnia, and night shift work are independent risk factors for REDs in women, with inflammation partially mediating these associations. The highest risk was observed in women with short sleep combined with night shift work. MR analyses provide genetic evidence for the causal role of short sleep, insomnia, and daytime napping in REDs. These findings highlight the importance of screening for sleep disturbances and shift work in RED risk assessment, suggesting that interventions targeting sleep duration and shift work schedules may help reduce RED incidence and improve reproductive health. This study is the first to integrate both prospective and genetic evidence to identify causal pathways.