Night sweats are typically one of the most annoying symptoms of perimenopause.
My patients confirm this to me nearly every day. Night sweats are not only uncomfortable, they can also interfere with your sleep. You already know sleep is important for many obvious reasons, but you may not know it is the time when you make your brain chemicals that power you up for the day.
You also know how you feel when you either get interrupted sleep or not enough sleep: foggy, moody, forgetful, and irritable (like overreacting to your kid spilling milk or forgetting to finish a chore).
A 44-year-old woman in perimenopause recently came to see me after hearing about our menopause clinic from a coworker—she had waited a month to get in and was anxious to talk. She walked in with a list of symptoms and questions in her hand—night sweats was at the top.
She said to me, “Why is this happening and can you make it stop?” She falls asleep without a problem, but the four nights before her period, she wakes up drenched in sweat—pajamas, bed sheets, even the hair on the back of her neck. Every night she changes her night shirt and top sheet, falls back to sleep, and continues to have minor sweats over the next four hours until the alarm sounds.
She wakes up exhausted and feeling foggy, and she feels like she’s a step behind everyone else all day. The same thing happens all four nights until her period is in full force, and she was looking for relief before she was due for her next “sleepless” cycle.
Her other symptoms included slightly irregular and heavier periods than before and occasional hot flashes during the day (but not interfering with work or making her too uncomfortable). These same symptoms are very common in women who still have almost-regular periods.
For this patient, we started looking at lifestyle habits—wine or sugar before bed, not drinking enough water during the day—that can trigger night sweats.
In addition, conditions like being overweight and having high blood pressure can also be triggers for many patients. Solutions to these issues are quite simple: no wine or sugar before bed, drink more water, lose weight, and manage your blood pressure.
But, there are other options to consider as well. Adding a very low dose hormone patch just the three days before her period could be a lifesaver for this patient. She could also try going back on the birth control pill, or looking for relief by using a medicine in the class SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) just the week before her period.
The point is that there are many treatment options and at least one of them may be right for this patient (and for you). You may also be relieved to know that having these symptoms does not mean you are crazy or that something is terribly, irreversibly wrong with you. Your next step is to see your doctor or nurse practitioner to rule out medical problems (like thyroid) and to be as healthy as possible every day.
I can relate! Helpful information, thanks! Sounds like I need to drink more water. I am through menopause but still have night sweats throughout the night, especially if I am awakened during the night. Then it takes me awhile to “regulate” and get back to sleep. How long does this typically continue past menopause?
I loved reading this article also :).. I did a total hystercomy since 2010 and I am still having hot flashes!! Ladies… I totally would agree with any medical person to get rid of what is bothering you and also take pills/patches etc. But I seem to have a problem when someone tells me to stop drinking coffee, to the point where I get very irritated:( (I wonder why!!). I would stop or start doing anything, but plz don’t say anything about my coffee:( 🙁 am begging you!!!!! BUT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING.. I also think that hot flashes stops in different people at different times!! Am on the patch and Effexor . As soon as I forget to take either one.. Lord have mercy !!!! I think men should be going through this damn punishment also, dont you ladies agree???
I have night sweats few days before my period, and it doesn’t smell nnice, is there any natural remedies you can recommend please.
I’m 23 is it normal too have nightsweats during your cycle or to even feel chills from time to time.
I just turned 23 too and after 11 years of periods, I started having night sweats only about 2 years ago. At first, I couldn’t figure out what was happening. It took about 5 months to realize it only happened during the first 2 days of my period. I also am wondering WHY?! I wake up completely drenched multiple times a night. I mean, I can actually wringe the sweat off my sheets. I’m not overweight. I have a health diet and exercise regimen. What’s up? Side note: it’s making me very uncomfortable about sharing my bed during my periods
From sweatology.net: according to this website, though extremely aggravating and fatigue causing due to lack of sleep, it is not abnormal. I am 50 and have just started having this problem. The website says its bc:”Changes in the brain neurotransmitters, chemicals responsible for transmitting signal to the body are responsible for unstable hormone levels. This change in the neurotransmitters can mistakenly send out the signal to the body to get rid of the body heat. In response to the signal, the body further instructs the blood vessels to expand and to pump the heart more rapidly, causing the sweat glands to open and suddenly release the sweats intensely.” I’m not sure if there is anything that can be done medically but I am going to check with my gyno
I’m 23 also. Just suffered through three nights of night sweats and my period started this morning. This is the first time I’ve experienced this but I’m glad this article was helpful because I was wondering what was going on!
I am 32 and also have begun to experience this– drenching wet cold sweats that I believe begin within a week prior to my menstruation.
Horrible waking up shivering and soaking wet.
Hi,
I am 38, I have a regular period every 28 days, I am thin, I drink 2 liters of water a day (=4 regular bottles). I don’t drink alcohol nor eat sweets before sleeping. And the days before my period I have night sweats, I wake up completely drenched, also I experience hot flashes during the day at the same time! It’s normal then! Thank you for this article
I am exactly the same and your age !! It’s fine all month until the 2/3 days before my period.
I’m 43 had a baby last year concieved natural have these sweats a few days before period and terrified I’m perimenopausal as I want another baby ? Does this mean I’m now not able ?
Hi Janet – We suggest you check with your physician or care provider. Hormones can do interesting things to our bodies, and don’t always indicate what you think symptoms might. Your care provider will be able to best assess your health and share with you their thoughts and recommendations. Best wishes to you. 🙂
I’m 41 and had to change my top 11 times last night ( 7 night b4) , bed sheets drenched, sleeping in 3 different bed at night. Period was due today but only have spotting for past 3 days. I’m at my wits end. Face is still burning up as I’m typing this, once 5 comes in the evenings I’m like a different human being around the time of month. Also getting 4/5 days of insomnia mid month. Nothing showing up in blood tests, need advice please
SSRIs are very nasty drugs that cause serious damage to the body, brain, and your hormones. After a dangerous Zoloft withdrawal my period has been nothing, but hell. One week before my period I am sweaty, clammy, hot, cold, anxious, depressed l, body very sore, and puking. It is seriously disabling.
Hi Amira – So sorry to hear about your health troubles. I sure hope you and your physician are working together toward a better health outlook. 🙂
I so understand . I was on SSRIs for 25 yrs. went through a living hell on earth with months of severe withdrawals and discontinuation syndrome, etc. and still not fully recovered. The Drs did not and do not recognize this, support or help me through this. Drs have no knowledge of the severity of what these drugs do long term. I have never been the same since. Drs now want me to go back on the SSRIs thinking that will fix the damage done. I sweat profusely every night, brain fog, anxiety, feeling constantly unwell, etc. The list is endless. I would give anything to have a supportive, understanding, etc, Dr to help with this horrible nightmare. I’ve yet to find one. I so hope you have someone to help you as I’m all alone with this battle.
I went through a similar period of discontinuation syndrome after 17 years of being on SSRI (brain fog, emotional rollercoasters, headaches and most annoying of all, incessant ear ringing). Eventually I could not stand the withdrawal and went back on the SSRI. I will never go off again. I still have the ear ringing. My advice – If you don’t need one for daily functioning (i.e. severe long term anxiety or depression), I highly recommend NOT going on an SSRI (especially for night sweats!). Also – a very well known side effect of SSRI therapy is excessive SWEATING!
PS – I also get nightsweats before my period. I’m 39. I find that exercise helps, as does DHEA supplements (25mg a day) – bit this supplement is not without risk so do your research and make informed decisions.
I’m 39, too, and have been on an SSRI medication for 8 years. Quitting is VERY hard. Pleeease do not take them unless absolutely necessary for functioning, and try not to stay on them long. Doctors usually do not support you in getting off them, even if you believe you can do well without them. They usually say they are not addictive, but when you experience withdrawal symptoms from hell you understand what chemical addiction is.
Please do not take them unless all else fails. And definitely not for night sweats. I second Catherine.
Try B vitamins while coming off of SSRIs and afterwards. Helps with the withdrawal process significantly.
Am 20 years old, am having night sweat 2nd day of my period, its normal please? Am worry
I am 37, and experiencing awful night sweats and trouble sleeping. This is the second day of these sweats, and I should start my period today. I’ve had medical and sleep issues all year, but my labs and vitals are always good. These nights sweats overbid off and on, and now wondering if this correlates with my cycle too. Glad I read this.
“I have had these night sweats off and on, but now wondering if they also correlate with my period. I’m glad I read this.”
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