Fact Sheets
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles, resulting in persistent and excessive daytime sleepiness and, in the case of Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1), also cataplexy (the sudden loss of muscle tone that can be triggered by strong emotions).
Certain sleep disorders, like narcolepsy, affect women differently throughout their lifespan, including in preparation for pregnancy and motherhood.
The fact sheet, Narcolepsy and Maternal Health, was created by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) to help support women living with narcolepsy who are considering planning for a family and to guide them in early conversations with their health care providers about how symptoms and treatments may impact conception, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and parenting.
Tammy Anderson, an advocate and volunteer with Wake Up Narcolepsy, shared her experience caring for her child with narcolepsy.
During the 5th Annual Scientific Conference of SBSM earlier this month, SWHR held the symposium "Addressing the Intersection of Narcolepsy and Maternal Health Care."
This November, during Family Caregivers Month and ahead of Giving Tuesday on November 28, SWHR is shining a light on women caregivers and showing our support for the role that they play in society.
Listen to Ashley’s story about the challenges she faced and decisions she made to manage living with narcolepsy and protect herself and her baby during pregnancy.
The Narcolepsy Toolkit includes information about sleep health across the lifespan to support women living with narcolepsy and their families as they navigate diagnosis, treatment, and care.
This material was created by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) and is intended to serve as a public educational and informative resource. This material may be cited or shared on external channels, websites, and blogs, with attribution given to SWHR, or printed and displayed in its original formatted version. SWHR encourages the sharing and reposting of its content in order to spread awareness around women’s health issues. For specific questions about sharing SWHR content, please reach out to communications@swhr.org.
SWHR’s Narcolepsy Program is supported by educational sponsorships from Avadel Pharmaceuticals and Harmony Biosciences. SWHR maintains editorial control and independence over educational content.