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Sleep checks could unlock better menopause care, poll suggests
Women aged 50 to 80 with menopause symptoms were more likely to report sleep problems than those without in a US national poll.
In a cross-sectional analysis of 1,202 US women, investigators found that 56.4 per cent reported sleep problems overall.
Among women with menopause-related symptoms, 75 per cent reported sleep problems, compared with 49.8 per cent of those without such symptoms.
The findings add to existing evidence that sleep disturbances are common during the menopause transition and may be closely tied to active symptom burden.
The Menopause Society has noted that women with vasomotor symptoms during the menopause transition are more likely to report disrupted sleep, and its 2022 hormone therapy position statement says hormone therapy improves sleep in women with bothersome night sweats and hot flushes that disrupt sleep.
Sleep problems in midlife and older women are clinically important because they may affect quality of life, daytime function, cardiometabolic health and long-term wellbeing.
Reviews of sleep disorders during menopause have identified several possible contributors, including vasomotor symptoms, ovarian hormone changes, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder and obstructive sleep apnoea.
The findings underscore the importance of asking about sleep when evaluating menopause symptoms and, conversely, considering menopause-related symptom burden when women in midlife and older adulthood present with insomnia, fragmented sleep or poor sleep quality.
“Integrating screening and evidence-based interventions for sleep disturbances into menopause management may improve overall health, quality of life, and long-term outcomes,” Joseph R. White, MD, MS, and colleagues wrote in the study abstract.
White and colleagues analysed survey data from Wave 10 of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, a nationally representative household survey of US adults aged 50 years and older conducted from 21 January to 7 February 2022 to assess timely issues related to health, health care and health policy.
Respondents in the current analysis were stratified and weighted to reflect the US Census. Investigators used chi-square testing to evaluate associations between sleep problems and menopause symptoms.
Among the 1,202 respondents, 65 women were premenopausal with no symptoms, accounting for 7.3 per cent of the weighted sample.
Thirty-seven women were perimenopausal with some symptoms, accounting for 3 per cent, 40 were menopausal within the past year with regular symptoms, accounting for 3.3 per cent, and 35 were menopausal within the past year without regular symptoms, also accounting for 3.3 per cent.
Most respondents were postmenopausal.
A total of 243 women were postmenopausal with symptoms, accounting for 20.8 per cent of the weighted sample, and 765 were postmenopausal without symptoms, accounting for 61.2 per cent.
Overall, 677 respondents reported sleep problems. Women with any menopause-related symptoms were significantly more likely to report sleep problems than women without menopause-related symptoms.
The current findings suggest that sleep assessment may be an important component of that individualised approach.
In primary care, screening may include questions about sleep duration, sleep latency, nighttime awakenings, early-morning awakening, daytime impairment, snoring or witnessed apnoeas, restless legs symptoms, mood symptoms, medication use, alcohol use, and the timing and severity of hot flushes or night sweats.
Investigators did not identify which specific menopause symptoms were most strongly associated with sleep problems.
However, earlier research has shown that greater vasomotor symptom severity is associated with more sleep disturbance, greater sleep-related impairment, worse sleep quality, and greater impairment in daytime activities and work productivity.
Limitations of the analysis include the fact that it was cross-sectional, that sleep problems and menopause symptoms were self-reported, and that it does not specify whether respondents had diagnosed sleep disorders or whether other contributors, such as depression, anxiety, chronic pain, cardiometabolic disease, or medication use, were assessed.
Still, the large, nationally representative sample provides clinically relevant insight into the overlap between menopause-related symptoms and sleep complaints among US women aged 50 to 80 years.
The authors said the findings support routine sleep screening as part of menopause evaluation and follow-up, particularly among women reporting active symptoms.
The Femtech World Awards is proud to reveal the shortlist for Research Project of the Year as part of the third annual global celebration of innovation, impact and leadership across women’s health.
From fertility science and perimenopause research to regional ecosystem analysis, the shortlisted projects reflect the breadth and growing influence of femtech research worldwide.
The category is sponsored by OncoGenomX, with the winner to be selected by a representative from the organisation.
OncoGenomX is dedicated to offering solutions and providing comprehensive support services that empower Drug Developers, Clinical Researchers, Oncologists,NextGenSeq Diagnostics Laboratories, NextGenSeq Service Organisations, Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics Companies to achieve their ambitious goals
The shortlisted entries for Research Project of the Year are:
Women’s health remains significantly underserved in South-East Asia, with persistent gaps in access, awareness, and quality of care carrying substantial social and economic costs.
This report examines the femtech landscape in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, highlighting market trends, emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, and the evolving support ecosystem.
It identifies key challenges facing femtech founders, including limited access to finance, low awareness and persistent stigma, marketing constraints linked to content moderation, and gaps in tailored ecosystem support.
Led by Stephanie Willson, MD, of the IVI RMA Global Research Alliance, the study explored whether embryos that show certain chromosome abnormalities during genetic testing may still have the potential to result in a healthy pregnancy and live birth.
The research analysed more than 7,600 frozen embryo transfers and found that some embryos previously considered unlikely to succeed were still capable of leading to successful pregnancies, although at lower rates than embryos without abnormalities.
The findings could help fertility clinics and patients make more informed decisions during IVF treatment, particularly in cases where there are limited embryos available.
Rather than automatically discarding these embryos, the research supports a more evidence-based and personalised approach to fertility care.
For many women, perimenopause can feel confusing and unpredictable, with limited research explaining what is happening in their bodies.
Natural Cycles set out to change that by leading one of the largest studies ever conducted on menstrual and ovulatory patterns, uncovering new insights into how ovulation behaves as women approach menopause.
Conducted in collaboration with researchers from George Washington University, Seattle Clinical Research Center, Gennev and the University of California San Diego, the study analysed nearly one million menstrual cycles from more than 197,000 women aged 18–52 across more than 140 countries.
The scale of this dataset made it possible to explore menstrual patterns and ovulation in far greater detail than has traditionally been possible in women’s health research.
The Femtech World Awards celebrates the innovators, researchers and organisations driving meaningful progress in women’s health.
What happens next
Winners across all categories will be revealed during the virtual ceremony on June 19, with winners receiving a trophy and an interview with a Femtech World journalist.
Women over 40 are seeking raves for mental and physical wellbeing, with a study suggesting the benefits go beyond nightlife.
The findings challenge the idea that nightlife and electronic dance music events are mainly for younger people.
Published in Psychology of Music, the study focused on the common misconception that nightlife is only for younger audiences.
Researchers surveyed 136 female clubbers aged 40 to 65 about their experiences at electronic dance music events.
The study, carried out at the University of Leeds in England, found women reported mental and physical wellbeing benefits from attending these events.
Seeing favourite DJs was the most common motivation, but many women also described dancing as a way to relieve stress and find emotional support.
The research found that 65.9 per cent of participants described attending a rave as “spiritual”, while 62.9 per cent said it offered an escape from everyday life.
A further 58.3 per cent said they felt like a different version of themselves in a club environment.
Nine in ten participants said they felt at home at electronic dance music events, with many pointing to a shared passion for music and the sense of community around it.
The study also suggested physical fitness played a role, with some women saying they had made clubbing part of their regular exercise routine.
However, the findings also highlighted challenges for older women in nightlife spaces.
One fifth of participants said they felt visibly out of place because of their age.
Nearly half reported unwanted physical contact, leading some to seek out different venues or attend only with friends.
Osteoporosis may raise the risk of death in postmenopausal women by up to 47 per cent, a new study suggests.
The findings point to an inverse relationship between femoral bone mineral density and mortality risk, especially within certain ranges.
Femoral bone mineral density is the amount of mineral in the thigh bone, which is often measured to assess bone strength and osteoporosis risk.
Dr Monica Christmas is associate medical director for The Menopause Society.
She said: “Osteoporosis often remains a silent threat after menopause, despite its profound effect on women’s lives—from loss of height, poor balance, and reduced mobility to disfigurement, pain, and even premature death.
“Early screening and preventive measures, including a calcium-rich diet (preferably from food sources), regular weight-bearing exercise, and hormone therapy when appropriate, can significantly improve bone health and reduce risks not only of fractures but also cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and dementia.
“It’s time we bring this conversation to the forefront.”
In the study involving nearly 3,000 postmenopausal women, bone mineral density at four femoral sites was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, a scan commonly used to measure bone strength and fracture risk.
The analysis found that mortality risk was significantly higher when femoral bone mineral density reached the osteoporotic threshold or when osteoporotic fractures were present.
After full adjustment, osteoporosis was associated with a 47 per cent increased risk of mortality.
A stronger inverse association between increased bone mineral density and mortality risk was seen within specific ranges, suggesting bone mineral density could serve as a prognostic marker of wider health.
The relationship appeared especially notable within the range of 0.46 to 0.71 g/cm² for total femur bone mineral density.
Previous research has shown that postmenopausal women face a significantly higher risk of death within one year of hip or vertebral fractures.
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