Sleep disorders

Some women can't fall asleep, others can't sleep a wink or stay awake for nights on end. Between 45% and 60% of all women complain of insufficient or poor-quality sleep during menopause. 1

The dance of female hormones...

In the first phase of menopause, the premenopause (around age 45), progesterone decreases first. In the next phase, perimenopause(around age 50), estrogen also declines. Sleep disorders are particularly frequent during this phase.

Sleep well during menopause

The basic principle is to avoid stress as much as possible, and to ensure a balanced lifestyle, a vitamin-rich diet and regular physical activity, preferably outdoors.

It's good to know that sleep disorders are not solely dependent on a number of factors during the menopause. In fact, sleep itself is a complex matter and, despite a great deal of research and knowledge, remains something of a mystery. Numerous bodily functions and hormones interact in mysterious ways, and if just one link in the chain malfunctions, the whole fragile "sleep" system can easily be disrupted.

Help and therapy for insomnia

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT ) can help with sleep disorders. With HRT, the body receives hormones it no longer produces sufficiently itself. Hormone replacement therapy is considered to be the most effective treatment, particularly for menopausal hot flushes and sleep disorders. Modern hormone replacement preparations come in a variety of forms and can be individually dosed.


The phases of menopause and their influence on sleep

As it is mainly progesterone that has a calming and anxiolytic effect on the psyche and nocturnal rest, sleep disorders are more or less programmed during the menopause...

  • Premenopause (around age 45)
    Progesterone levels fall.


  • Perimenopause (around age 50)
    Estrogen levels fall sharply. Sleep disorders are common at this stage.
    Progesterone levels also continue to fall, albeit slowly but steadily.


  • Menopause (at around 52)
    Estrogen and progesterone are now at their lowest levels. This doesn't mean, however, that sleep is out of the question. On the contrary, some women continue to sleep well into menopause and feel virtually no change.


  • Post-menopause (up to about age 65)
    In the final phase of menopause, the hormonal balance harmonizes, and most women experience a pleasant new serenity. However, sleep still tends to be light and often interrupted. This can lead to increased daytime sleepiness.

References

    1. Salari N et al. Global prevalence of sleep disorders during menopause: a meta-analysis. Sleep Breath 2023 Mar 9: 1-15.