Altered levels of both sex hormones and gonadotropins may contribute to sleep disturbance in older postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the December 1 issue of the journal SLEEP.
The study, authored by Patricia J. Murphy, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medical School, looked at 10 women between 57 and 71 years of age, at least five years past menopause, examining possible links between objective sleep measures, nocturnal sex hormone levels, and night time body temperatures.
Hormone Levels, Sleeplessness and Menopause
In fertile women, an sharp rise in levels of luteinizing hormone, the LH surge, is what triggers ovulation.(1) Estradiol is the major estrogen hormone, and development of secondary sex characteristics in women is driven by it.(2)
Researchers found that lower estradiol and higher luteinizing hormone (LH) levels correlated meaningfully with indices of poor sleep quality, as in insomnia. Relationships between LH and quality of sleep were stronger than for estradiol.
Additionally, significant increases from basal LH levels occurred more frequently after sleep onset than prior to sleep onset, and 30 of 32 of these LH pulses occurred prior to long awakenings from sleep.
Further, higher body temperature prior to and during sleep was significantly correlated with poorer sleep efficiency and higher LH levels.
Perimenopase Insomnia
“Few studies have measured gonadal hormones in women who are more than a couple of years postmenopause, and almost no studies have investigated, beyond menopause, whether endogenous levels of these hormones influence sleep,”
said Dr. Murphy.
“Yet, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women share many of the same features of sleep disturbance, such as awakening in the early morning hours and an inability to return to sleep. Furthermore, several studies have shown that hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms that influence sleep continue years beyond menopause in up to 40 percent of postmenopausal women. Thus, the sleep difficulties that emerge at menopause often do not abate and may become compounded by age-associated disruption of circadian and homeostatic processes that regulate sleep.”
Melatonin Levels
How does the hormone melatonin fit in these sleep problems? Melatonin levels in the blood vary in a cyclical pattern. Higher levels make a “signal” that forms part of the system regulating circadian sleep and wake cycles. Chemically, melatonin works by causing drowsiness to fall upon the mind.
Another recent study (3) looked at the timing of melatonin cycles in depressed and non-depressed postmenopausal women in order to gain a clearer understanding of the complex hormonal pattern in these women. The researchers, from the University of California, San Diego, found that the number of years a woman was past menopause predicted plasma melatonin peak level durations.
They also found that melatonin duration, body mass index, years past menopause, Follicle Stimulating Hormone level and sleep end time were correlated and significant predictors of depression scores.
So, are melatonin levels controlled by estrogen and gonadotropin levels? Further research is needed, but it seems that melatonin supplementation (4) at some point in the future could be on the list of sleep aids for postmenopausal women suffering from poor sleep.
Ten Better Sleep Tips
Here are some tips from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for women to get better quality sleep:
- Make the bedroom a comfortable and safe place. Reduce noises and extreme temperatures that might disturb you.
- Use light and comfortable bed linens and garments.
- Go to bed only when you are sleepy and use the bed only for sleeping and sex.
- Begin rituals to help you relax at bedtime, such as taking a soothing bath or enjoying a light snack.
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, including weekends and holidays.
- If you need to take a nap, keep it to less than one hour and take it before 3 p.m.
- Only drink caffeine in the morning, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes late in the day.
- Stay away from fatty, spicy foods that are likely to upset your stomach or cause heartburn.
- Set aside time during the day to get all of your worries out of your system.
- Increase vitamin E in your diet, or take a vitamin E supplement.
Hormone replacement therapy may help you sleep better by relieving severe hot flashes, as well.
References
- Gonadotropins: Luteinizing and Follicle Stimulating Hormones at colostate.edu
- Nussey and Whitehead: Endocrinology, an integrated approach Taylor and Francis 2001
- Parry BL, Meliska CJ, Sorenson DL, Lopez AM, Martinez LF, Nowakowski S, Hauger RL, Elliott JA. Increased Melatonin and Delayed Offset in Menopausal Depression: Role of Years Past Menopause, FSH, Sleep End Time and Body Mass Index. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Nov 27 PMID: 18042653
- Zhdanova I, Wurtman R, Regan M, Taylor J, Shi J, Leclair O (2001). “Melatonin treatment for age-related insomnia.”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86 (10): 4727 30. PMID 11600532.
Last Updated on November 6, 2023