Sleep and Menopause

Sleep during menopause is dysfunctional due to the loss of influence of sex hormones and vasomotor symptoms. Sleep latency, frequent awakening, sleep apnoea, and decreased third stage of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and REM sleep are the standard features. Vasomotor flush, anxiety, depression, and insomnia are the oestrogen deficiency symptoms, and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the progesterone deficiency symptom. Hormone replacement therapy is the first-line intervention followed by GABA-benzodiazepine receptor agonists as the second-line intervention for sleep dysfunction. There are three occasions in a woman’s life to encounter insomnia, namely, the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the third trimester of pregnancy, and menopause. Adequate and quality sleep is a requirement for good health.