If you've ever woken up drenched in sweat, feeling like your body is hosting its own personal heatwave, you're not alone. Night sweats are a common symptom experienced by over 80% of individuals before or after menopause due to changing hormone levels, notably a drop in estrogen (Verywell Health).

Why It Happens

During menopause, the body's production of estrogen decreases significantly. This drop affects the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature. With less estrogen, the hypothalamus becomes more sensitive to slight changes in body temperature, leading to sudden heat sensations known as hot flashes. When these occur during sleep, they're referred to as night sweats (Yale Medicine).

How It Affects You

Night sweats can disrupt your sleep cycle, leading to:

• Broken sleep cycles: Waking up multiple times during the night can prevent you from reaching restorative sleep stages.
  
  
• Morning fatigue: Interrupted sleep can leave you feeling tired and sluggish.
  
  
• Mood swings: Lack of quality sleep can affect your emotional stability.
  
  
• Brain fog: Sleep disturbances can impair cognitive functions like concentration and memory (Harvard Health).
  
  

Ways to Manage Night Sweats

To manage night sweats and improve sleep quality:

• Keep your bedroom cool: Maintain a room temperature of 16–18°C (60–65°F).
  
  
• Avoid triggers before bed: Limit alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods in the evening.
  
  
• Wear breathable sleepwear: Opt for cotton or moisture-wicking fabrics.
  
  
• Consider hormone therapy: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) can be highly effective in reducing night sweats and hot flashes. Estrogen therapy, sometimes combined with progesterone, helps stabilize the hypothalamus and reduce temperature fluctuations. Studies show BHRT can decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes by up to 75–80% in menopausal women (Mayo Clinic).

Personalized Hormone Solutions at Thrivelab

At Thrivelab, we specialize in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause with personalized, science-backed treatment plans. Our hormone health experts create customized strategies, including HRT when appropriate, to help you sleep cool and wake refreshed.

Take the first step toward feeling like yourself again by completing your Thrivelab Symptom Assessment. Once completed, you can schedule an appointment with a Thrivelab provider who will create a personalized hormone solution tailored to your unique needs.