A Guide to Getting the Right Help for Sleep Problems During Menopause

A Guide to Getting the Right Help for Sleep Problems During Menopause

Sleep can change dramatically during menopause. You might suddenly struggle to fall asleep, wake several times throughout the night or find yourself exhausted despite spending enough time in bed.

While hormonal changes, hot flushes and night sweats can certainly interfere with sleep, it is important not to assume that poor sleep is simply something you have to accept during menopause. Different sleep problems require different treatments, so finding out what is actually keeping you awake is an important first step.

Start by looking at your symptoms

Pay attention to what your nights and days actually look like. Are you lying awake for hours? Waking because of hot flushes? Snoring? Experiencing morning headaches? Or feeling persistently tired and unrefreshed during the day?

These details can provide important clues about what may be happening. Insomnia is particularly common during menopause, but the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also increases after menopause.

Sleep apnea can be especially easy to overlook in women because it does not always present with the symptoms people typically expect. Some women experience fragmented sleep, fatigue, morning headaches or insomnia rather than obvious loud snoring.

What if it is insomnia?

If you regularly have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or returning to sleep after waking, insomnia may be contributing to the problem.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can help improve sleep during the menopause transition. Maintaining consistent sleep and wake times, exercising regularly and creating a cool, comfortable sleeping environment may also help.

For some women, menopausal hormone therapy may improve sleep quality, particularly when hot flushes and night sweats are contributing to repeated awakenings. Your doctor can help determine whether this is appropriate for you.

What if sleep apnea is suspected?

Symptoms such as snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, witnessed pauses in breathing, morning headaches and persistent daytime tiredness can warrant further investigation for sleep apnea.

A sleep study can assess your breathing and other measurements while you sleep to determine whether OSA is present. If sleep apnea is diagnosed, treatment may include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or a mandibular advancement splint (MAS), depending on your individual circumstances.

Could you have both?

Sometimes insomnia and sleep apnea occur together. This is known as COMISA, or comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea.

Someone with COMISA may struggle to fall or stay asleep while also experiencing repeated breathing disturbances once asleep. Identifying both conditions is important because focusing on only one may leave part of the sleep problem untreated.

Getting the right support

Poor sleep may be common during menopause, but persistent sleep problems deserve attention. If you regularly struggle to sleep, snore, experience morning headaches or feel unusually tired during the day, speak with your GP or a sleep health professional. A proper assessment can help identify the cause and guide you towards the treatment that is right for you.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

If you are experiencing ongoing sleep problems during menopause, our team can help investigate what may be contributing. This may include insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea or both.

Sove CPAP Clinic has over 100 clinics nationwide and offers bulk-billed home sleep studies for eligible patients to investigate sleep apnea. We also provide personalised, evidence-based care for various sleep conditions to help you find the right treatment approach, including for people experiencing both in the case of COMISA.

To speak with our team, book a sleep study or learn more about our sleep services, call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. MAS is intended to reduce or alleviate snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study, MAS, or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&C’s apply.