Menopause insomnia, Pregnancy insomnia 

Women are twice as likely to suffer from Insomnia as men. A women’s quality of sleep varies with the changes in her menstrual cycle. Many women experience insomnia atleast once a month, around the time of their periods. Insomnia is also a complaint for women who suffer from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) as well as during menopause. The main culprits are the different effects of the two hormones – estrogen which makes women alert and progestrone which makes them sleepy – which fluctuate throughout the cycle. 

Insomnia during menopause

A recent study in the medical journal Menopause* observed that "Insomnia is a frequently reported complaint in menopausal women." Recent studies now have found that insomnia during menopause is connected with the drop in the brain chemical serotonin that occurs when a woman’s estrogen levels decline. Or it could simply occur due to the changes in her hormones. It’s usual for the frequency of insomnia to double in women undergoing menopause from what she experienced when she was premenopausal. And studies have shown that women usually begin to experience restless sleep as much as five to seven years before menopause hits.

Here’s what doctors suggest women should do to combat their insomnia : 

• Keep a regular diary for three months to monitor what part of the cycle influences your sleeping patterns. Try the following to control the insomnia

• Have a glass of water two tablets of Tums before going off to sleep

• Take 400 mgs of Magnesium, if you don’t have kidney problems, to take care of the moodiness

• Take a vitamin tablet containing Vitamin B6 which helps the brain release the happy chemical serotonin which calms the body

• Exercise for 30 minutes three times a week

• If you have chronic insomnia then check for Estrogen levels

• Increase fruits and vegetables in your diet. There are chemicals called phytoestrogen in food such as apples, cherries, soyabean that can help increase estrogen level

• Manage stress and get professional help if you suffer from any psycological ailments 

Insomnia in pregnancy

You may be losing sleep while you are pregnant for a variety of reasons. Whatever the reason may be, it is important to understand that insomnia is not harmful to your baby. Insomnia during pregnancy is normal and affects approximately 78% of pregnant women. The most common reason for insomnia during pregnancy is hormonal changes. As the pregnancy progresses and your body grows in size, it becomes difficult to sleep. Some women also have trouble sleeping on their backs. Back pain, frequent urination, heartburn, baby’s movement, anxiety about childbirth, lack of exercise can also contribute to insomnia during pregnancy. If your insomnia is due to pregnancy then it will go away soon after childbirth. Try the same natural remedies as mentioned in this website for curing insomnia, avoid sleeping medication during pregnancy. If your insomnia is chronic then you must contact your doctor.

Get more information about Menopause in our Resources