Why Women Are More Prone to Fatigue

The menstrual cycle significantly affects energy — most women notice lower energy in the luteal phase (days 14–28) as progesterone rises, and particularly in the days before menstruation. This is physiological, not psychological, and is partly explained by reduced sleep quality (progesterone raises body temperature slightly, impairing the thermal regulation needed for deep sleep).

Perimenopause and menopause bring sleep disruption through night sweats, hot flushes, and changes in sleep architecture, alongside shifts in oestrogen and progesterone that affect mood, cognition, and energy regulation. These changes are often undertreated and misattributed to depression or stress.

Women of reproductive age lose significantly more iron monthly through menstruation than men, making iron deficiency the most common nutritional deficiency in women globally. Even without full anaemia, low ferritin causes persistent fatigue, poor exercise tolerance, and reduced cognitive performance.

Regular blood tests checking ferritin (not just haemoglobin) are important for women with heavy periods or those following plant-based diets. Optimal ferritin for energy is generally above 50 μg/L, but many women are told levels of 15–20 are 'normal'.

Research consistently documents that women shoulder a disproportionate share of household management, childcare, emotional labour, and mental load — often alongside full-time work. This invisible labour accumulates into a chronic cognitive and emotional fatigue that is easily dismissed or internalised as personal inadequacy.

This is a structural issue, not a personal one — but identifying it clearly helps in negotiating more equitable distribution of load and in understanding why traditional fatigue advice ('sleep more, exercise more') often fails to address the actual constraint.