Menopause Insomnia – Why?

Like many things in a woman’s life sleep can be greatly affected during menopause. When the hormones in our bodies begin to change we can experience a period in our lives in which deep sleep can be hard to come by. While there are a number of drugs offered to help women sleep through the night, most of them are highly addictive and can lead to withdrawal. In order to explore some natural remedies that menopausal women can use to solve sleep problems we must first explore the cause of our lack of sleep.

Progesterone and Our Sleep

As you may well know, during perimenopause, the production one of our key hormones, Progesterone, drops significantly. While many women understand that this process affects the onset of menopausal symptoms, it is not commonly understood that Progesterone is used to help calm us down, putting us in a restful state. In addition to feeling restless, a lack of Progesterone can set off a number of other symptoms that make it difficult to sleep such as:

• Night Sweats

• Increased Menopausal Fatigue

• Sleep-disordered Breathing

• Sleep Disturbances

What Can I Do?

Again, there are many drugs that can help you sleep throughout the night, but with side effects ranging from addiction to withdrawal it is recommended that menopausal women try some more natural cures before resorting to drug treatment.

1. Exercise – It is important to all aspects of a menopausal woman’s life to get enough exercise. When it comes to sleep though, make sure you aren’t exercising too close to bedtime.

2. Minimize Caffeine – This seems like common sense, but did you know that consuming caffeine even during the early morning hours and affect your sleep the following night? Make sure you are limiting the amount of caffeine you take in, and avoid it completely close to bedtime.

3. Remove T.V. – If you are having trouble sleeping try removing the television from your bedroom. Watching T.V. until you fall asleep can be an activating, leading to difficulty falling asleep or even being awoken by a loud moment in your favorite television show.

4. Have Sex – Having sex can be difficult for the menopausal women. Changes in hormones can lead to reduced libido (which can be cured in some women by taking testosterone). If you can, having sex before bed is a wonderfully relaxing activity that will prepare you for a good night’s sleep.

5. Take Naturally Calming Supplements – There are a number of natural herbs and supplements that can be taken to induce a calming effect, such as:

• Chamomile Tea

• Theanine

• Torino

• Gaba

Are You Awake?

By implementing and following these natural cures for sleep deprivation, you can find yourself sleeping soundly throughout the night even during menopause. Remember that you can keep your sleep in balance; menopause doesn’t have to be a terrifying experience.