Researchers from the Essex University in the UK found that compared to women, men are far more likely to complain that their sleep is disturbed by their partner's snoring.
The researchers, who looked at 14,000 couples, found that 30 per cent of men complained that they were kept awake by their partner's snoring or coughing compared to just 20 per cent of women, the Daily Mail reported.
The study also found that women tend to have more problems nodding off and frequently woke up quite a few times during the night.
Nearly 24 per cent women claimed they struggled to fall asleep three nights a week in comparison to just 18 per cent of men. A further 26 per cent of women said they had "poor" sleep quality compared to 20 per cent of men.
Experts say millions of women have a problem with snoring but they are often too embarrassed to admit it.
Snoring happens when the soft tissue at the back of the throat rattles when someone breathes in and out. It is more common in the obese, heavy drinkers and smokers.
Previous research has also suggested many women are too meek when it comes to confronting their husband's drones and often lie awake trying to ignore it rather than prodding them.
The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, also found that people who worked longer hours tended to have more problems sleeping -- probably because they are kept awake by stress.
Professor Sara Arber, who analysed the findings, said: "Given the links between sleep, social and economic circumstances and poor health found in this and other surveys, health promotion campaigns should be open to the possibility that the increased incidence of sleep problems among the disadvantaged in society may be one factor leading to their poorer health."