Night sweats and menopause

Menopause affects everyone in different ways. While some people experience few or no issues, others may face more difficult challenges that impact their day-to-day lives.

Night sweats are among the most common signs associated with menopause – and true to their name, they can be very uncomfortable to experience and leave your bedsheets drenched in sweat.

But why do night sweats happen during menopause in particular? And what are some of the best ways to help manage them for a more restful night’s sleep?

Here, we answer both of these questions and more, offering practical solutions to help you feel more in control and sleep more comfortably.

What are night sweats?

Night sweats are a sign of menopause, causing excessive sweating that can leave your clothes and bedding soaking wet – even if where you’re sleeping is cool.

Night sweats are one of the most common signs of menopause and are closely related to another sign you might have heard of: the hot flush.

When experiencing a hot flush, you will normally feel a sudden sensation of heat or warmth in your upper body, often accompanied by sweating, reddening of the skin and palpitations. This sensation typically lasts for up to four minutes (but can last for up to an hour) as it spreads across your body.

Night sweats are essentially the same as a hot flush – the only difference is that they happen when you’re asleep.

Known as ‘vasomotor symptoms’, hot flushes and night sweats are experienced by 70–80% of women during menopause.

What causes menopausal night sweats?

While scientists still don’t fully understand why night sweats (or hot flushes) happen, they’re thought to be brought on by fluctuations in the brain’s ability to regulate temperature – a direct result of declining oestrogen levels before, during and after menopause.

When you experience a hot flush at night, your body mistakenly thinks it’s overheating, even though it isn’t. This can trigger your skin’s blood vessels to open, which may then result in an intense sensation of heat and your body becoming hot and sweaty.

Since night sweats are just hot flushes you experience while asleep, you may not even realise you’re having them until you wake up.

However, if night sweats are disrupting your sleep or beginning to impact your work or social life, it’s important to speak to your doctor.

Can night sweats occur during perimenopause?

There are no set rules when it comes to menopause – everyone experiences it differently. This means that it is perfectly possible to experience night sweats during perimenopause (the transition leading up to menopause), due to the changing levels of oestrogen in your body.

Perimenopausal signs, like night sweats, can occur during the transition into menopause, which all women experience at some point in their lives. While this normally happens between the ages of 45 and 55, it can occur earlier for some women and later for others.

During perimenopause you may experience a wide range of signs, including mood swings, changes in your libido and – you guessed it – night sweats.

Night sweats during menopause: management techniques

Living with night sweats can leave some people feeling uncomfortable and lacking in sleep. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help alleviate your signs and get back to enjoying restful sleep.

For example, here are some great ideas to try:

Change your diet: What you eat can impact your likelihood of experiencing menopausal signs, like night sweats. For instance, try to avoid alcohol, spicy foods and caffeine.
Think about what you wear: The types of clothes you wear to bed can make a big difference to how hot you feel. So, it’s a good idea to avoid clothes made from synthetic fabrics and opt for loose cotton pyjamas instead.
Keep your room cool: Since night sweats can make your body feel as if it’s overheating, it’s important to keep your bedroom cool. You can do this by opening a door or window, or using a fan.
Reduce your stress levels: While eating healthily, exercising regularly and performing stress-relieving activities may not directly reduce night sweats, they may help you to feel better and manage your signs more effectively.
Give up smoking: If you smoke cigarettes, quitting may not only decrease your likelihood of experiencing hot flushes but also reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Treatments for night sweats

While the strategies above can help you combat night sweats, there are also several treatments available to address these and other menopause signs you may be experiencing.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often the main form of treatment that doctors may prescribe to help alleviate the signs of menopause, including night sweats.

Available as tablets, skin patches, gels and sprays, HRT is highly effective and works by replacing the hormones that your body is no longer producing.

However, if HRT isn’t suitable for you, or you would prefer not to use it, speak to your doctor to explore other treatment options that may be available.

You deserve to feel supported through every stage. Explore more on the CanesMeno^® hub if you’d like advice that fits your life.

Night sweats and menopause

What are night sweats?

What causes menopausal night sweats?

Can night sweats occur during perimenopause?

Night sweats during menopause: management techniques

Treatments for night sweats

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