“If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your
daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue,
mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life”.1
Umbrella
What may the Night Sweats Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Hot Flashes/Flushes At Night
- Hot Flashes/Flushes That Occur During Sleeping
- Night Sweats
- Sweats
- Vasomotor Symptoms
Definition
What are night sweats?
DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:
“Night sweats are hot flashes at night that interfere with sleep”.2
The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
“Night sweats are episodes of profuse sweating at night, either alone or just after a hot flush”.3
Vasomotor Symptoms
What are vasomotor symptoms?
DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The NAM’s definition is:
“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.4
Severity
Is the severity of night sweats one-size-fits-all?
In NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms) the AMS elaborate on:
“These symptoms range in severity from minor irritation to a major disruption in quality of life”.5
Irritability
Is there an association between irritability and night sweats?
In Menopause 101: A Primer for the Perimenopausal – Common Body Changes At Menopause: Night Sweats the NAMS elaborate on:
“While it’s a myth that menopause itself makes women irritable, the sleep disturbances that stem from hot flashes and night sweats can certainly make a woman irritable”.6
Preventative Steps
What are some preventative steps to improve sleep quality?
In Night Sweats: Care and Treatment – What Can I Do At Home To Treat Night Sweats? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic suggest:
- Sip cool water throughout the night.
- Use pillows and mattress covers that contain cooling gels.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, cotton or linen pajamas to bed.
- Exercise daily by walking, swimming, dancing, bicycling, etc.
- Use lightweight, layered bedding that you can remove as needed at night.
- Unwind before bedtime using deep breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques.
- Use a bedroom fan, sleep with your windows open, or crank up the air conditioning.
- Keep a cold pack under your pillow, then flip your pillow to rest your head on a cool surface.
- Avoid common night sweat triggers such as alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine and cigarettes or exercising immediately before bed”.7
Treatment
What are some treatments for night sweats?
The NAM’s explain:
“Treatments for night sweats and hot flashes include lifestyle changes, nonprescription remedies, hormone therapy (with estrogen plus progestogen, or estrogen alone for women without a uterus), and nonhormonal prescription drugs”.8
Hormone Therapy
What may hormone therapy (HT) improve?
On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits published July 2022, the NAMS elaborate on:
“If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life”.9
On page two in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Hormone Therapy Options the NAMS also note:
“Each woman must make her own decision about HT with the help of a healthcare professional. If you decide to take HT, the next step is to choose between the many HT options available to find the best dose and route for you. With guidance from your healthcare professional, you can try different forms of HT until you find the type and dose that treats your symptoms with few adverse effects”.10
On page two in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause first published 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is:
- “The decision whether to take HRT, the dose and duration of its use should be made on an individualised basis after discussing the benefits and risks with each patient. This should be considered in the context of the overall benefits obtained from using HRT including symptom control and improving quality of life as well as considering the bone and cardiovascular benefits associated with HRT use. Discussions with women should also cover aspects such as when to consider stopping HRT and how this can be done (by gradually reducing the dose of HRT). No arbitrary limits should be set on age or duration of HRT intake”.11
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with my night sweats?
If you would like help with your night sweats, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the (United States) Mayo Clinic encourage us to seek help explaining:
“Before deciding on any form of treatment, talk with your doctor about your options and the risks and benefits involved with each. Review your options yearly, as your needs and treatment options may change”.12
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Night Sweats?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Night Sweats?
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Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- 5 Ways To Get Better Sleep
- Alcohol
- Are Premenopausal “Cold Flashes” A Real Thing?
- BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
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- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Frustrated By Night Sweats While You’re Sleeping?
- HRT & Menopause Extra
- HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT: Benefits and Risks
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- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
- Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
- How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
- How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
- Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Treating Menopause Symptoms [+ Video: Does the Menopause Happen Suddenly?]
- Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Looking After Yourself
- Managing Your Symptoms
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes
- Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
- Menopause Management Options
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – Stages of Menopause: Perimenopause
- Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
- Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause Wellness
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Menopause and Mental Health
- Menopause-Related Hot Flashes and Night Sweats Can Last for Years
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Natural Therapies & Supplements
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Night Sweats
- Night Sweats
- Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Black Cohosh
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause – Fact Sheet
- Phytoestrogens
- Questions To Ask Your GP About Menopause
- Relaxation and Stress Reduction To Reduce Hot Flashes
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
- The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Video Series-2023
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
- Webinar: Perimenopause
- Webinars: Previous – To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Is Menopause?
- What To Expect In Each Stage of Menopause
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause 101: A Primer for the Perimenopausal – Common Body Changes At Menopause – Night Sweats. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal Accessed: 16 March 2023
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated: September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 16 March 2023
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated: September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause 101: A Primer for the Perimenopausal – Common Body Changes at Menopause: Night Sweats. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Night Sweats: Care and Treatment – What Can I Do At Home To Treat Night Sweats? Last Reviewed 06 September 2022. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/16562-night-sweats Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause 101: A Primer for the Perimenopausal – Common Body Changes At Menopause – Night Sweats. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/menopause-101-a-primer-for-the-perimenopausal Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Hormone Therapy Options. 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First published online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 16 March 2023
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 17 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 16 March 2023