Does Menopause Impact Sleep?

Impact of menopause on sleep

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Menopause significantly impacts sleep, primarily through increased sleep disturbances and insomnia, largely driven by vasomotor symptoms and hormonal changes. Psychological factors also play a crucial role in exacerbating sleep problems. While objective sleep parameters show some changes, the variability in sleep complaints suggests that individual differences and pre-existing conditions are important considerations. Addressing these multifactorial issues through appropriate clinical assessments and management strategies is essential for improving sleep quality in menopausal women.

Menopause is a significant phase in a woman’s life, marked by the cessation of menstrual cycles and a decline in ovarian hormone production. This transition is often accompanied by various symptoms, including sleep disturbances. The following synthesis presents key insights from multiple research papers on how menopause impacts sleep.

Key Insights

• Increased Sleep Disturbances and Insomnia:
  • Menopause is associated with a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances, including insomnia, which is often linked to hot flashes, mood disorders, and increased sleep-disordered breathing2 3 5 6.
  • A significant number of women experience severe sleep difficulties during the menopausal transition, with 26% qualifying for a diagnosis of insomnia3.
• Role of Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS):
  • Hot flashes and night sweats are major contributors to sleep disturbances during menopause. These symptoms are frequently linked with awakenings and increased wakefulness after sleep onset1 3 6.
• Hormonal Changes and Sleep Quality:
  • Changes in hormone levels, particularly reductions in estrogen and progesterone, are closely associated with sleep disturbances. These hormonal shifts can lead to alterations in sleep architecture and increased prevalence of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless leg syndrome (RLS)4 5 7.
• Objective Sleep Parameters:
  • Studies using polysomnography have shown that postmenopausal women tend to have higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lower oxygen saturation (SaO2) compared to premenopausal women, indicating a modest but significant impact of menopause on objective sleep parameters4 8.
• Psychological and Emotional Factors:
  • Psychological factors such as stress, depression, and anxiety, which are common during menopause, are strongly related to sleep disturbances. These factors can exacerbate sleep problems and contribute to poor sleep quality1 5 7.
• Variability in Sleep Complaints:
  • There is variability in sleep complaints among menopausal women, with some studies indicating minimal differences in sleep quality between premenopausal and postmenopausal women without sleep complaints. This suggests that individual differences and pre-existing conditions may play a role in sleep disturbances during menopause9.

Does menopause impact sleep?

Susan Davis has answered Likely

An expert from Monash University in Endocrinology, Women’s Health

Vasomotor symptoms ( flushes/sweats) impact sleep, however there is evidence of disrupted sleep post menopause that is menopause-related but independent of vasomotor symptoms.

Does menopause impact sleep?

Jerilynn Prior has answered Uncertain

An expert from Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research in Women’s Health

Problems with falling asleep, waking in the middle of the night, and/or and waking too early in the morning, are all more common in menopausal women than in younger women.

It is not clear, however, whether these sleep disturbances are caused by menopause itself (the life phase starting 1 year after the final flow), or by aging, or by night sweats. It is most likely that there is same change with aging.

Perimenopause (the years of changing hormones, menstrual cycles and experiences before 1 year after the last flow) is a time of sleep disturbances, most commonly waking suddenly in the middle of the night, usually associated with feeling “hyper.” Although night sweats start in perimenopause, perimenopause clearly disturbs women’s sleep, even if they do not have night sweats. The sleep problems are worse if perimenopausal women are also having night sweats. Evidence suggests that waking with night sweats more than twice a week is disturbing to a woman’s well-being and ability to function normally. 

Does menopause impact sleep?

Sophia Yen has answered Likely

An expert from Pandia Health in Women’s Health

Yes. the hot flushes and the hormonal changes can result in interrupted sleep, less sleep.

Does menopause impact sleep?

Amy Yee has answered Uncertain

An expert from Tufts University in Women’s Health, Cancer

Unknown. It is known that hormonal fluctuations can influence sleep.

Does menopause impact sleep?

Sara Nowakowski has answered Near Certain

An expert from Baylor College of Medicine in Psychology, Sleep Research

Yes, menopause does impact sleep. Menopausal women are twice as likely to report dissatisfaction with their sleep compared with premenopausal women. Insomnia and poor sleep is likely related to factors such as aging, hormone fluctuation, hot flashes, other sleep disorders, psychiatric and medical conditions, and stress.

Does menopause impact sleep?

Cara A Davidson has answered Likely

An expert from Western University in Health

Menopausal symptoms have been known to disrupt sleep.