Menstruation-related periodic hypersomnia: a case study with successful treatment

A 16-year-old girl suffered from 1 to 2-week periods of hypersomnia associated with each menstruation. Serum hormone levels were normal. CSF concentrations of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid were lower in hypersomniac than in symptom-free phases. 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol was not affected. The sleep periods occurred only in connection with ovulatory menstrual cycles. When ovulation was inhibited by a combination of ethinylestradiol and lynestrenol, an oral contraceptive pill, the hypersomnia ceased. Thus, the hypersomnia seemed to be linked to the occurrence of ovulatory menstruations.