Hormonal Fluctuations
Oestrogen and progesterone play a critical role in sleep regulation. Oestrogen supports serotonin and melatonin, two neurotransmitters essential to sleep onset and quality – while progesterone has a naturally calming, sedative effect. As these hormones fluctuate and decline during perimenopause and menopause, sleep architecture becomes less stable, and you might notice yourself lying awake long after everyone else in your household has fallen asleep.
Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
Vasomotor symptoms, a group of menopause-related symptoms caused by changes in the body’s temperature regulation system, are a primary disruptor of sleep. Sudden changes in body temperature can trigger micro-awakenings throughout the night, preventing perimenopausal and menopausal women from reaching deeper, restorative stages of sleep.
Circadian Rhythm Shifts
Research conducted by the Sleep Research Society suggests that menopause may alter the body’s circadian rhythm – the internal clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This can lead to earlier waking, difficulty staying asleep, and increased sensitivity to stress and light at night.
Cortisol and Stress Response
Compared with your teens, 20s and 30s, midlife often coincides with increased cognitive and emotional load – careers, caregiving, identity shifts. Combined with hormonal changes, this can elevate cortisol levels, keeping the nervous system in a ‘high alert’ state when it should be winding down.