The impact of menopause on sleep disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep disorders are one of the main complaints of women in transition from menopause, with a prevalence between 40% and 56%. However, regardless of the etiology, it is essential to assess the symptoms of insomnia in the context of menopause, as well as physical and mental health. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the transition from menopause to the causes of insomnia. Methodology: In April 2021, a literature review was carried out on MedLine using the descriptors “insomnia”, “menopause” and their respective synonyms, published in the last 5 years and available in full. Results: 157 articles were found, 4 of which were used in making this work. The precise mechanism of vasomotor symptoms is little known, but the hypothesis is that it results from a disturbance of the temperature regulating system in the hypothalamus, triggered by a decline in estrogen. Longitudinal data show that women with moderate to severe hot flashes are almost three times more likely to report frequent nighttime awakenings compared to women without hot flashes (HF). Conclusion: Therefore, HF is an important aspect of insomnia in the transition from menopause and is strongly associated with reports of interrupted sleep.