Khaberni -Women who work night shifts may be more prone to irregular menstrual cycles and hormonal imbalances, according to a study presented yesterday at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco.
Dr. Alexandra Yao from Michigan State University said: "Exposure to light similar to working night shifts causes a disruption in the body's internal timing, leading to a varied response, where some females experience disturbances in their reproductive cycles and hormones, while others do not."
Pregnancy complications
Yao added: "However, both groups face an increased risk of ovarian dysfunction and pregnancy complications, including difficult childbirth, in response to light exposure during night shifts."
According to "Medical Express", Yao and her colleagues used mice in laboratory experiments, where light hours were increased compared to darkness, for a period ranging from 5 to 9 weeks.
Work lights
The results showed that half of the female mice exposed to work lights in a shift system suffered from irregular cycles, while the others continued their cycles normally.
The mice that suffered from irregular cycles also had hormonal imbalances and signs of poor ovarian health.
However, work lighting in a shift system impacted the timing of ovarian and uterine function, even in mice with normal cycles.
After mating, all the mice, even the "shift workers", were able to conceive, but all the mice exposed to work light in a shift system had smaller offspring and a much higher likelihood of complications during labor.
