Insomnia is a symptom of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause for many women from age 35 to 60. Suffering from lack of sleep is taxing and unhealthy. It’s important to understand what’s happening during these stages of menopause to help you better manage each one.
- Hormonal changes. As a woman's ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, both sleep-promoting hormones, the inability to fall asleep and stay sleep occurs. Also, declining levels of estrogen can make you more susceptible to other stressors that interrupt sleep such as noise and light.
- Hot flashes. A surge of adrenaline wakes up your brain from sleep. You’ve just experienced a hot flash. Along with it comes sweating and a change of temperature that usually disrupts your sleep. It can take time for your adrenaline to decline and let you get back to sleep again.
- Depression/Mood Swings. About 20 percent of women experience depression during menopause. Sometimes it’s linked to estrogen loss, but hormonal changes may not be the only cause. Stress and a familial history of menopause can also be causes.
- Coincidental Social Issues. Aside from the hormonal changes you may experience, you may also undergo many social changes. Whether you’re retiring, moving, changing jobs, or just feeling midlife stress, these issues can all interfere with a good night’s sleep.
- Inconsistency Patterns.Because menopause creates so many changes in your body, it’s easy to become inconsistent with routines, such as wake up time, bedtime, and mealtime. Being more consistent can not only help you manage hormonal fluctuations, it’s also helps with better sleep.