The National Sleep Foundation reports that some women have insomnia and night sweats in the days prior to their cycle and throughout the initial days of their cycle. In addition to having a more difficult time falling asleep, their quality of sleep decreases.
PMS-related insomnia is commonly brought on by hormonal shifts and physical discomfort. A woman’s likelihood of experiencing sleep interruptions prior to and during her menstruation is doubled.
What we call “night sweats” is exactly what it sounds like: sweating excessively during the night. The vast majority of individuals link them to menopause, which is experienced primarily by females.
However, fluctuations in hormone levels are another typical reason women get night sweats, including insomnia, during their periods.
Unlike normal perspiration during sleep or in a heated atmosphere, night sweats might cause you to sweat so much that you wet through your pajamas and your sheets. Night sweats are a common manifestation for some women. They rarely cause harm and can even be remedied.
This article will discuss why insomnia and night sweats happen during menstruation, their management, other possible causes, and when to visit a doctor.
The Question is, Why Periods Cause Insomnia And Night Sweats?
Changes in your hormone levels might significantly alter your nightly sleep routine. They ensure that you get the right amount of sleep at the right times each night. On the other hand, the hormonal regulation of other body systems might be affected by the monthly fluctuations of female hormones.
Night sweats are a common symptom of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), but they can occur at any time before or during your period.
When you have your period, your hormone levels naturally increase and decrease. In particular, fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels have been linked to premenstrual syndrome symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
Period cramps, anxiety, and other PMS symptoms can all make it difficult to relax and fall asleep. These symptoms can disrupt your sleep and make it hard to fall back asleep once you wake up.
It’s also not good for sleep if you give in to sugar or caffeine cravings in the evening or right before bed.
1. Hormonal Shifts
It is believed that lower estrogen levels are the leading cause of hot flashes in women after they have gone through menopause. When you ovulate at the midpoint of your cycle, your progesterone levels and your basal body temperature rise simultaneously. As a result, estrogen levels have begun to fall.
At the onset of your period and immediately prior, your estrogen levels are at their lowest. Alterations in hormone levels can affect the hypothalamus, which is responsible for regulating the body’s temperature.
Norepinephrine is released in response to the drop in estrogen, making you extremely sensitive to temperature changes.
Due to this hormonal transition, PMS-related night sweats and insomnia may occur. Similarly, estrogen can alleviate hot flashes by reducing the heat required to induce perspiration.
Night sweats are common in the days leading up to menstruation, and they can be more bothersome if you already have a hormone imbalance.
2. Imbalance in Blood Sugar
The sugar and other glucose levels in your blood become unbalanced when you eat a lot of processed foods and refined carbohydrates. When blood sugar levels are too high, our bodies secrete insulin to deal with the situation.
Chronically elevated blood sugar levels are caused by insulin resistance, in which the body becomes less responsive to insulin’s effects and unable to store blood sugar.
In addition to causing an imbalance of sex hormones, high insulin levels stimulate the ovaries to produce testosterone (the primary male hormone).
This imbalance does more than simply cause insomnia and night sweats; it can also result in acne and excessive hair growth.
3. Anxiety
When you get anxious, your body prepares for “fight or flight,” also known as the sympathetic nervous system.
Your peripheral blood vessels will consequently constrict, leading to a rise in your body temperature. Your body will initiate sweating as a defense mechanism against this elevated temperature. Thus, you will be lying awake due to the discomfort.
4. Alcohol And Some Meds
The consumption of alcohol is another possible cause of sleep disruption. Don’t drink alcohol since your liver will have to work even harder to control your temperature while you’re on your period.
As a result of alcohol’s interference with the body’s thermoregulation mechanisms, it is possible to experience both profuse sweating and severe chills. Wine, in particular, has been blamed as a significant contributor to the hot flashes experienced by many women.
So, your brain may send messages to your body to cool you down by sweating even when necessary, as it becomes more sensitive to even minor temperature fluctuations.
How to Deal With Insomnia And Night Sweats?
You can take measures to minimize the discomfort and sleep disruption caused by night sweats. Without medicine or other medical treatment, a change in one’s lifestyle may help alleviate night sweats.
To stop nocturnal sweats, try these methods.
- Reduce the heat level in your bedroom. You can use a fan or keep a window open at night.
- Make sleep a priority. Most of us, especially during our menstrual cycles, don’t give enough thought to the importance of sleep to our overall health. Your body has a pattern that ensures you’ll be awake and ready to go by the time you leave for work in the morning. Rather, if you find yourself dozing off during your commute, it’s a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep.
- Switch to lighter, layered blankets, sheets, and blankets made of lightweight cotton. Using light bedding layers can aid in temperature regulation by allowing you to lose any excess. Fast-drying or moisture-wicking bedding is another option to think about.
- Sleep with an ice pack by your side. Try putting a soft gel cold pack underneath your pillow to create a cooler night’s sleep. Turning your pillow over can help you get some much-needed airflow when you get up in the middle of the night.
- When you first open your eyes in the morning, drinking some water can assist you in regulating your body temperature. If you want cold water in the morning, you should use a thermos or insulated flask. You should always have a bottle of cold water next to your bed.
- Keep an eye on your medications. Check the list of ingredients and possible side effects on any prescription or supplements you are currently using.
It’s possible that some of them are interfering with your slumber. A good example of anything that can help you stay awake is caffeine, which can be found in many different foods and drinks.
Insomnia can be a side effect of several drugs, including antidepressants, corticosteroids, cold remedies, and antihistamines.
- Consistent physical activity is highly important. You should be reassured that engaging in strenuous activities too close to bedtime is not a good idea.
Nighttime perspiring can be a symptom of stress, and exercise can help alleviate that. Some people also find that taking a cool shower after exercise is beneficial.
- Try to stay away from any potential stressors. Spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and caffeine are common evening perspiration causes.
Either skipping these things entirely or doing so in the hours preceding bedtime could help reduce the severity of night sweats. Caffeine withdrawal may also be helpful for PMS.
- Have a lot of fluids. Water intake all day long is crucial for maintaining health. Additionally, it can assist in keeping your body cool, lessening the likelihood of nighttime sweating.
Could Insomnia And Night Sweats Indicate Early Menopause?
Anxiety and trouble sleeping are two of the most commonly mentioned menopausal symptoms.
Menopause affects women in different ways. Though some women may experience little or no symptoms at all, as many as half of all women say their menstrual cycles are accompanied by uncomfortable symptoms that disrupt their lives and sleep.
Ovarian failure occurs when women experience an abnormal decline in ovarian function before age 40. Changes in hormone levels are the most likely cause of night sweats during your period. Still, night sweats can also be a sign of other illnesses, such as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI).
When you have POI, you might experience any of the below symptoms:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Issues retaining focus
- Pain during sex
- Lowered sexual desire (sex drive)
- Dryness in the Vagina
- Infertility Problems
POI can raise the likelihood of heart disease and fractures.
Also, it usually causes infertility, so if you’re experiencing symptoms, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible, especially if you want to keep your reproductive options open.
Finally, night sweats that won’t go away could be an indicator of a more serious health issue, such as:
- Imbalances in the thyroid gland
- Adverse drug reactions
- Autoimmune disorders
- Anxiety
- Infection
Call your doctor if you still have doubts about whether or not your period is to blame.
When Should I See a Doctor?
If you just experience night sweats and insomnia shortly before your period, there’s usually no need for an alarm. Night sweats are more common in the late 30s and early 40s, but they can occur at any age.
A visit to your doctor is necessary if you suffer night sweats regularly, especially if you also exhibit other troubling symptoms like a rash or unexplained weight loss, in order to rule out more severe conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (POI).
There is currently a lack of information about the causes of period-related insomnia and how to cure it.
You don’t have to deal with your symptoms alone if you’ve noticed a trend throughout the course of your cycles. Instead, consider keeping a journal of your symptoms over the course of six months to show to a doctor or other medical professional.
They will be able to diagnose the root causes of your sleep problems, advise you on how to improve your quality of life, and provide you with treatment options if necessary.
Parting Note
The purpose of learning about your cycle and how it impacts your sleep is not to alter it. The human body’s hormonal cycles are notoriously difficult to alter.
By synchronizing your actions with your body’s, you can help it through its natural cycles. Getting the best sleep you can during your period will help alleviate some of the discomfort, disruption, and frustration associated with having your period.
Night sweats during your period may be typical and result from hormonal variations in estrogen and progesterone levels. These changes might produce night sweats.
Night sweats, either before or during periods, are often not a reason to worry unless additional symptoms are present simultaneously, such as a fever or weight loss that cannot be explained. This may indicate that there is another problem with your health.
There are several things that you may take to assist with the management of night sweats when you are experiencing your period.
This involves making choices like purchasing pajamas and bedding made of cooling materials and lowering the temperature in your bedroom.
Even though night sweats aren’t usually a cause for concern, dealing with them can be quite frustrating. If you experience night sweats during your menstrual cycle, it is important that you seek medical attention.
Be sure to discuss your concerns with your healthcare practitioner if you notice that your night sweats and insomnia during your period are affecting your quality of life in any way, such as by keeping you awake all night or preventing you from getting a good night’s rest.
