Menopause is one part of a lifelong shift in women’s hormone balance. Through each phase of her life, a woman’s sleep and health face different risks and challenges, writes Michael Breus, PhD, for Psychology Today.
It’s throughout perimenopause that many of the symptoms of menopausebegin to flare. During perimenopause, levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone start to decline significantly—but also fluctuate sharply along with that overall decline.
Estrogen levels in particular may shift erratically during perimenopause, and this hormone’s perimenopausal highs and lows can contribute to a range of symptoms—from hot flashes and night sweats to anxiety to headaches—that interfere with both sleep and waking performance.
