Night Sweats in Women: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

In women, nighttime sweating is becoming a common complaint. Studies have reported that

41%

of people experience night sweats, and women are more likely to experience it than men.

However, in women, identifying and separating symptoms like hot flashes with night sweats is difficult because of their complex hormonal system.

In this post, we will dive deeper into the details of night sweats in women, its causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Common Causes of Night Sweats in Women

Perimenopause and Menopause

The most common cause of night sweats in women is hormonal fluctuations and changes over the course of time. During the perimenopausal transition, almost
50% to 75%

of women experience
hot flashes

and night sweats, or some may experience both, which is commonly known as vasomotor symptoms.

As a female approaches
menopause,

the levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, which leads to a range of symptoms.

These hormonal fluctuations affect the body’s ability to efficiently
perform thermoregulation,

which leads to an intense, sudden feeling of heat.

Moreover, night sweats are known to be an early-stage symptom of perimenopause along with
other symptoms,

such as:

• Changes and fluctuations in the menstrual cycle
• Increased vaginal dryness or infections
• Difficult staying asleep or falling asleep
• Changes to libido
• 
  Mood swings

  
  and PMS symptoms

• Changes in body weight and hair growth

These symptoms often start at
perimenopause

and continue into menopause. It is estimated that
35% to 50%

of perimenopausal women suffer hot flashes that cause night-sweating.

Menopause-related night sweats can be treated by menopausal hormone therapy, which is known as Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Non-Menopausal Hormonal Fluctuations

Hormonal fluctuations

in a female’s monthly hormonal cycle can occur at any stage of life. In some cases, the symptoms of hormonal fluctuations are similar.

For example, conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), overactive thyroid, and birth control-related hormonal imbalances can also trigger menopause symptoms and night sweats.

You may also experience other symptoms such as mood swings, anxiety, depression, loss of concentration, and lack of energy, especially on days when hormones take a shift.

Pregnancy

Night sweats during pregnancy can be a common and often uncomfortable experience for many women. They are especially prevalent during pregnancy due to hormonal fluctuations and increased blood flow.

As the body undergoes significant changes to accommodate the growing fetus, hormonal shifts, particularly those involving estrogen and progesterone, can cause the body’s temperature regulation to become more sensitive. This hormonal imbalance can lead to an increased metabolic rate, causing pregnant women to feel warmer than usual and experience episodes of night sweats.

Additionally, the increased blood flow during pregnancy can raise the body’s core temperature, leading to excessive sweating that makes it more difficult to sleep well while pregnant.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

POI

is a medical condition where the ovaries stop proper functioning before the age of 40. This condition leads to lower levels of estrogen and other hormones that regulate the hormonal cycle.

The symptoms of these hormonal imbalances are similar to menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, irritable bowel, and mood swings.

Women with POI

often report waking up in the middle of the night due to excessive nighttime sweating.

Anxiety and Stress

Psychological factors have a great influence on a female’s body. Increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, disrupt the estrogen and progesterone balances leading to delayed or missed periods.

Moreover, the natural stress response of the body will cause a rise in temperature and excessive sweating.

Women have a two-way link between stress and anxiety and hormonal balance, with women being at
twice the risk

for an anxiety disorder compared to men. Stress and anxiety can cause temporary changes in hormone levels. Chronic stress can make these changes persistent and concerning.

On the other side, a female feels different levels of stress and anxiety on different days of their hormonal cycle. Aside from night sweats, stress can affect sleep in numerous ways.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Night sweats can also be linked to obstructive sleep apnea— a sleep-breathing disorder. People with OSA experience multiple interruptions in breathing while sleeping, which cause sudden awakenings and broken sleep.

The subsequent increase in body temperature caused by these sudden awakenings can cause night sweats. OSA is also associated with
symptoms like:

• Snoring
• Daytime fatigue due to not having enough sleep
• Depression and other mood changes
• Difficulty focusing on work
• Regular awakening at night

Diagnosing the Cause of Night Sweats

If you regularly experience drenching night sweats, it’s important to get properly diagnosed by a doctor. They can help determine the underlying reason for your night sweats and provide appropriate treatment.

Here’s an overview of how doctors diagnose night sweat causes through examinations and
medical tests

:

Medical History & Symptom Tracking: Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your health history and any medications you take. Tracking patterns of when sweating occurs along with any accompanying symptoms helps identify connections.

Physical Exam: A full physical exam allows the doctor to assess your overall health and look for potential signs of infection, thyroid issues, cancer, or other illnesses associated with sweating.

Blood Tests:
Bloodwork

can detect abnormalities with blood cell counts, hormone levels, thyroid function, and indicators of infection, inflammation, or cancer. Testing estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA levels provides hormonal insights.

Imaging Tests: CT scans, MRIs, PET scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays of organs can uncover tumors, organ damage or enlargement that may explain sweating episodes.

Menopause Test: A doctor can use a simple blood test to detect levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to confirm if a woman has undergone menopause. This helps determine if menopausal hormonal changes could be the sweat trigger.

Sleep Study: If sleep apnea is suspected, your doctor may recommend a sleep study to monitor your breathing, heart rate, oxygen levels and sleep stages. This can definitively diagnose sleep apnea as a night sweat cause.

By methodically assessing your symptoms, medical history, hormones, and overall health, doctors can get to the root cause of your night sweats. Accurate diagnosis guides the treatment approach, whether it involves hormone therapy, medications, managing an underlying condition, or simple lifestyle changes.

Discuss your night sweat concerns with your doctor to get properly evaluated.

Treatment Options for Night Sweats

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

For women experiencing night sweats due to hormonal imbalances,
Hormone Replacement Therapy

can be an effective option. The method involves supplementing women with synthetic hormones to keep the levels of estrogen and progesterone in balance.

The HRT method is known to be effective in alleviating menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. However, your healthcare professional needs to make a call on whether it will be effective for you or not.

Lifestyle Changes

Whether you are experiencing night sweats due to hormones or any other factor, it is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Keep your room cool and dark to promote better sleep
• Avoid heavy and spicy meals before bedtime
• Use light, moisture-wicking bedding
• Eat green cruciferous vegetables
• Avoid simple sugars to prevent hormonal imbalances
• Move enough during the day

Medication Adjustment

Sometimes, women feel night sweats as a side effect of the medicines they are taking. For example, antidepressants,
methadone,

and drugs used to treat low blood sugar with diabetes can cause night sweats in women.

In such conditions, you need to consult with your healthcare professional and discuss alternative medication options. Or alternative dosages.

Tips for Managing Night Sweats

Though night sweats need proper medical attention to alleviate the symptoms, here are some tips you can follow to manage these symptoms.

• Breathable Bedding: Use a breathable cooling mattress with lightweight and moisture-absorbing sleepwear and bedding to provide you comfort and help reduce night sweats.
• Air Conditioning: Use an air conditioner to keep your room at a cool temperature for sleep. It is easier to fall and stay asleep in cool temperatures, even for people who don’t experience nighttime sweating.
• Destressing Activities: Engage in de-stressing activities such as deep breathing exercises. Guided imagery, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy can also help reduce stress.
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: In women,
  excess weight

  
  is associated with stress and hormonal imbalances. Weight can also be a risk factor for conditions, i.e., Sleep apnea, that may cause night sweats. Unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of hormonal changes.

• Avoid Trigger Foods: It is best to avoid caffeine, spicy foods, and sugary items before bed. These foods affect the natural thermoregulation process of your body and may contribute to night sweats.

FAQs

When to talk to your doctor about night sweats?

If you are experiencing persistent night sweats that disrupt sleep along with other symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, fever, or persistent fatigue, it is time to consult with a doctor. Your healthcare provider will run the necessary tests to identify the cause of this condition to treat it better.

Additionally, individuals with a history of cancer, autoimmune disorders, or other chronic illnesses should seek medical advice promptly to rule out any serious underlying conditions and receive appropriate treatment.

Will night sweats in women end after menopause?

The hormonal changes associated with menopause can trigger nighttime sweating. However, after menopause, the night sweats condition often decreases in frequency and severity. In many cases, the symptoms disappear clearly, and sometimes they persist for a long time.

Night sweats often subside after menopause due to the stabilization of hormonal levels, particularly the reduction in estrogen production. However, some women may continue to experience night sweats even after menopause, requiring further investigation to identify any underlying health issues that may be contributing to this symptom.

Consulting a healthcare professional can provide valuable insights and guidance on managing night sweats post-menopause.

What cancers cause night sweats?

Night sweats can be a symptom of lymphoma, leukemia, and carcinoid tumors. For example, people with breast cancer can also experience night sweats in the last stages. Night sweats are also a common symptom of cancer treatments, too.

However, night sweats alone do not confirm cancer, as they can also result from other non-life-threatening conditions. It’s important to consult with your doctor if night sweats persist for a proper diagnosis and appropriate medical guidance. Particularly if these nightly sweats are accompanied by other concerning symptoms.

Why are women more likely to experience night sweats than men?

Women have complex hormonal cycles and experience hormonal fluctuations due to their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Such hormonal changes can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation, leading to episodes of excessive sweating during sleep. This is why these hormonal shifts make women more likely to experience night sweats compared to men, who have a more stable hormonal cycle.

However, night sweats in women can also result from various other factors, such as certain medications, infections, or underlying health conditions. All of these possibilities necessitate a comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider.

Are there medications that can stop night sweats in women?

Some medications, such as hormone therapy, antidepressants, certain diabetes medications, and medications to treat hot flashes, like paroxetine and gabapentin may help women treat night sweats. These medications may work by addressing the underlying hormonal imbalances or other contributing factors.

However, the suitability of these medications varies from person to person, and their effectiveness depends on the individual’s specific health condition and medical history. So it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional to determine the most effective treatment plan.

Conclusion

Night sweats in women can affect the quality of your sleep, just as night sweats in men can do the same. This overall leads to compromised health and well-being. While the female body experiences hormonal fluctuations due to many reasons like PCOS, POI, stress, and anxiety, symptoms like night sweats shouldn’t be overlooked.

There are multiple treatment options available — hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle adjustments —- to help you alleviate the symptoms of nighttime sweating in women.

However, for a personalized treatment, you should consult with a medical healthcare provider for a better diagnosis and treatment.