Sleep is something we all need - but do women and men actually sleep differently? And what happens when we move beyond biological sex to consider gender roles and identity?

In this episode we welcome Dr. Lieve van Egmond, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Tübingen. Lieve’s work explores how sleep, mental well-being and hormones interact, with a special focus on transgender individuals.

From the basics of why sleep is essential for mental health, to state-of-the-art research on sex differences, hormonal transitions, and gender diversity, this conversation takes you from foundational science to the future of inclusive sleep research. We discuss why “sex” alone is not enough to understand sleep and mental health, where current research still falls short, and how new studies are opening up perspectives that have long been overlooked. Along the way, Lieve also shares, what frustrates her about the current state of the field, what motivates her as a scientist, and why science communication is key to improving both healthcare and quality of life of all individuals.

If you would like to get in touch with Lieve, you can find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltvanegmond/

https://www.medizin.uni-tuebingen.de/de/das-klinikum/mitarbeiter/profil/5375

... or reach out to: [email protected]

Timestamps:

00:26: Introduction to our guest Dr. Lieve van Egmond

02:09: Why do we need sleep?

03:41: How do sleep and mental health influence each other?

08:52: Differences between "sex" and "gender"

14:30: Do females and males sleep differently?

18:07: The role of female hormonal transition periods in sleep

21:51: The gap in research on sex differences and sleep

25:08: Why "sex" alone is not enough in sleep research

27:17: Sleep and mental health in transgender individuals

38:55: Where is future research on sleep, sex & gender heading?

42:48: Lieve's frustration and motivation in her field of research

47:49: The importance of science communication

50:45: Closing and take-home messages

Outline & questions: Franziska Weinmar

Sound recording & Editing: Franziska Weinmar with the equipment of the IRTG2804

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