Sleep disturbance in menopause

Abstract

Sleep disturbance during menopause is a common and important complaint faced by many women. There are many factors that may play a role in this problem, including vasomotor symptoms and changing hormone levels, circadian rhythm abnormalities, exacerbation of primary insomnia, mood disorders, coexistent medical conditions as well as lifestyle factors. Sleep can be measured both objectively and subjectively; however, correlation between the two measures is not high. Most of the menopause-related sleep disturbances have been reported as qualitative in nature; however, there have also been studies showing changes in objective measures. This discrepancy has implications with regard to evaluation of research in sleep and menopause, as well as application in the clinical setting. Investigations of inadequate sleep and sleep problems during the menopausal period and obtaining a thorough understanding of the factors contributing to these problems are essential in formulating treatment strategies. Such strategies can vary from hormonal treatment and medications to lifestyle and behavioural modification.

Predictors of sleep disturbance in menopausal transition

“…Instead, vasomotor symptoms, which increased markedly in women entering postmenopause, and depressive symptoms were the most important risk factors for impaired sleep quality. Menopausal transition has been documented as an important hallmark for increased risk for sleep disturbances [5][6][7]. Furthermore, concurrent vasomotor symptoms add to the risk [9][10][11]24].…”

“…Around 40-60% of women report sleep impairment during menopause [4]. Although both menopausal transition [5][6][7] and aging [8] increase sleep disturbances, etiology in menopausal women is probably multifactorial. The most common menopausal complaints, nocturnal vasomotor symptoms, are associated with poor sleep [9][10][11].…”

Magnitude of the impact of hot flashes on sleep in perimenopausal women

“…A hot flash is a heat-dissipation response, consisting of peripheral vasodilation, and sweating beginning in the upper part of the body (3). Sleep disturbance in menopause has often been attributed to the occurrence of hot flashes (4, 5) and both hot flashes and sleep disturbance are primary reasons for women seeking medical care during perimenopause and postmenopause (4). …”

Sleep Behaviors in Older African American Females Reporting Nonmalignant Chronic Pain: Understanding the Psychosocial Implications of General Sleep Disturbance

“…Epidemiological evidence shows the impact of poor sleep quality on symptoms related to severe premenstrual syndrome (F. C. Baker et al, 2012), pre-, peri-and postmenopause (Ameratunga, Goldin, & Hickey, 2012;Eichling & Sahni, 2005;Kravitz et al, 2011;Ozisik-Karaman, Tanriverdi, & Degirmenci, 2012;Young, Rabago, Zqierska, Austin, & Laurel, 2003), postpartum (Kuo, Yang, Kuo, Tseng, & Tzeng, 2012;Newland, Fearing, Riley, & Neath, 2012), and varied musculoskeletal disorders (Shaver, Wilbur, Robinson, Wang, & Buntin, 2006;Theadom, Cropley, Parker, & Feigin, 2011) across the age continuum of females nationally and internationally (Kotronoulas, Wengström, & Kearney, 2011;Lindstrom, Andersson, Lintrup, Holst, & Berglund, 2012).…”