Sleep in Menopause

Lim, W J

Abstract

Menopause, the cessation of menstruation caused by the decline in estrogen production, occurs in 95% of women between 40 and 60 years. Sleep disturbance is a frequent complaint during the perimenopause period. In contrast to premenopausla women, menopausal women experience more reduction in the total sleep hours and report more sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, noctiria and sleep disordered breathing. But the prevalence, etiology and treatment of sleep disturbances in menopause are still controversal. So further investigations are required to elucidate the factors that account for the differences in sleep disturbance between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. There are suggestive data that estrogen and progesterone deficiency may increase the susceptibility for sleep disorder in menopause. Furthermore, there are suggestive evidence from observational studies and a limited number of randomized, controlled trials that hormone replacement therapy after menopause improves sleep. However, the clinical relevance of hormone replacement therapy is unproved. So the overall benefit of hormonal replacement in postmenopausal women with sleep related disorders should be individualized to avoid potential side effects. Several studies evaluated the role of melatonin, because this hormone has effects on core body temperature & insomnia. But the exact dosage and the effects of long-term use of melatonin are unclear. So, caution is indicated in melatonin administration.