Night sweats

Excessive sweating at night is often a part of menopausal hot flushes

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Night sweats are a common complaint during the menopause, frequently disturbing our sleeping patterns and leading to other unpleasant symptoms. In this page, our menopause expert Eileen Durward identifies the underlying cause of night-sweats and offers some advice on how to assuage the sweats using self-support techniques.

An introduction to night sweats and menopause

Night sweats frequently trouble women during the menopause. It is related to the symptoms of excessive sweating and hot flushes during the day and as a group, these are the most common symptoms experienced by women going through the menopause.

It would be incorrect to think of night sweats as a separate menopause symptom - it is only a night-time manifestation of hot flushes and sweating experienced during the day. But because night sweats occur whilst women are sleeping or not able to take 'evasive action', they become more noticeable.

It is not uncommon for a woman experiencing night sweats to wake up with her bedclothes drenched in sweat. Night sweats are not only embarrassing but also disturb your sleep and that of your partner.

As with hot flushes, women will experience menopausal night sweats and excessive sweating in different ways. Some suffer night sweats quite severely, whereas others don't appear to be bothered by excessive sweating or night sweats at all.

When can I expect night sweats?

Night sweats, as with hot flushes, are extremely unpredictable. Some women will experience night sweats as their main or only menopausal symptom, others will find that it is one of a whole host of other symptoms.

There is no particular time of night in which night sweats occur. In practice however, they are more likely to happen if your bedroom is too warm - this can sometimes lead to marital differences!

The number of night sweats suffered each night is variable and often unpredictable. The one consolation is that, generally speaking, night sweats are usually accompanied by hot flushes - and they do not last as long.

Causes of night sweats

Night sweats are very commonly associated with the menopause, as with hot flushes and excessive sweating - the root cause of these menopause symptoms is probably the same.

As levels of oestrogen fall during the menopause, the normal functioning of the area of the brain that acts as the body's thermostat (the hypothalamus) is thrown off-course. Although not fully understood, it is believed that the drop in oestrogen confuses the hypothalamus, making it think that the body is overheating.

This brings about all the usual responses the body would normally use to keep cool - the skin reddens (the hot flush) and the sweat glands begin to work (excessive sweating and night sweats).

Night sweats can also be caused by conditions other than the menopause. These may be experienced by both men and woman and do not usually indicate a health problem. However, occasionally, night sweats can be a sign or symptom of an underlying health condition.

If you are a man or a woman not going through the menopause, it would be wise to seek advice from your doctor if you suffer from unexplained night sweats.

Night sweats - how to help yourself

There are a number of factors that can make the problem of night sweats worse:

It is obvious that night sweats are made worse in a warm bedroom. Turn off the central heating, open the window and bring out the lighter duvet
Night sweats can be triggered by sudden changes in temperature
Avoid hot drinks, caffeine and red wine at night
Avoid chocolate, refined or spicy foods
Avoid becoming dehydrated by drinking plenty of water
Smoking can make night sweats worse
Emotional upset and stress increases adrenaline levels, making your sweat glands work harder
Using an extract of sage such as Sage tablets can provide relief from excessive sweating and night sweats.

17 Comments

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Tracy mcnab — 20.09.2017 20:44
I suffer way menopause and anxiety I can't cope way these sleepless nights want can I do
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- eileen — 21.09.2017 12:48
  Hi Tracy If night sweats are causing your sleep problems then, hopefully, the tips above will be of help. If it is general problems then you could try our Dormeasan, this is traditionally used to help promote a good night's sleep. https://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/valerian-hops-dormeasan/index.php
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Clare — 13.09.2017 06:44
Hi. I just wake up for a couple of hours in the night feeling really hot. No sweating. The sage doesn't seem to be helping. Is there anything else? I am already on Menopause Support ?
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- eileen — 14.09.2017 08:56
  Hi Clare This can sometimes be caused by dehydration so remember to drink lots of plain water throughout the day and you could try a little shot glass of warm water before bed. If you are waking up between 1-3am this could indicate a bit of liver stress (very common in the menopause!) so you may find taking Milk Thistle Complex for a couple of months can help and just try to avoid caffeine drinks and high salt and sugar foods in the evening. https://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/milk-thistle/index.php
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Amanda — 03.09.2017 09:09
It very igrivating
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Evonne gunn — 16.08.2017 18:34
Hi, I'm 46 not get confirmed by doctor that I am menopausal but I know my body is changing ,I am relitively healthy ,don't drink alcohol much and don't smoke, I can't sleep at night due to the sweats ,my body is so hot to touch and I get soaking wet, I can cope during the day much better, would love advise
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- eileen — 17.08.2017 09:33
  Hi Yvonne You may find the sage tablets can help, these are specifically for flushes and night sweats, you can take one with your evening meal. This usually works quickly. https://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/sage-tablets-menoforce/index.php I would also ask your doctor to test you for low vitamin D as this can cause profuse sweating. Remember to avoid caffeine/fizzy drinks from the afternoon onwards as these can affect your sleep and have lots of plain water every day. Dehydration can stress the nervous system leading to more flushes and sweats!
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Lesley — 16.08.2017 12:13
Hi ..... I'm 47 and going through the menopause, my gp has put me on clonidine to ease the hot flushes which has helped slightly. I have also been taking Promensil and for the last 7 days the menopause support (trial pack). The flushes aren't as frequent through the day but the night sweats are really bad. I'm sleeping roughly from 10.30pm to roughly 1.45am every night.
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- eileen — 17.08.2017 06:49
  Hi Lesley You may find the sage better than the Menopause Support for the night sweats. Both the Menopause Support and your Promensil contain phyto-oestreogens so we don't usually recommend taking the two products together. Waking between 1 and 3am often indicates that your liuver is a bit stressed (very common in the menopause!) so you may find taking Milk Thistle Complex for a month or so can help. https://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/sage-tablets-menoforce/index.php https://www.avogel.co.uk/herbal-remedies/milk-thistle/index.php
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Elizabeth Moore — 03.08.2017 20:57
I have very bad hot flushes during day an night.Night ones are terrible an cannot sleep they are making me very irritable due to lack of sleep .
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kath — 11.07.2017 08:44
Hello... i had an estrogen positive breast cancer & had mastecomy & had to have ovaries removed. I since have struggled with hot flushes all the time... can I take this as the gp doesnt have a solution for me. I am in distress with it all
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- eileen — 12.07.2017 10:09
  Hi Kath Unfortunately, the Menopause Support would not be appropriate for you as it has an oestrogenic action, sorry. I would suggest looking into acupuncture, this can often be of benefit when you can't take HRT, you could ask your doctor if there is a practitioner connected to your local NHS and if so could you be referred. If not you can find someone through www.acupuncture.org.uk
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- kath — 12.07.2017 11:29
  Hi... thankyou for replying. Its been a struggle coping. Sadly the nhs are not able to offer funding with complimentary therapies, rejected 3 referrals. My quest continues.
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Tracey thresher — 28.06.2017 18:19
Hi I'm having iregglar period's and getting hot flushies in the day about 8 or 9 times. I get hot in the night. I'm 42 year's old. I've also got Ms and I'm not sure if that's why I'm getting hot flushes. Thanks Tracey.
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- eileen — 29.06.2017 13:07
  Hi Tracey We do know that on-going health issues such as MS can trigger an earlier menopause whereas the average age is 45-55. However, other things can also be factor such as stress/anxiety, change of diet or lifestyle so have a little look back as to when this started and see what was going on in your life and you may find a clue! In the meantime you may find Menoforce sage tablets can help with the flushes.
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Margery Farrall — 01.04.2017 10:45
I am sending this email on behalf of my wife who is 78 years old she is experiencing night sweats nearly every night.We have been to the doctors which has done no good ,advice only no medication what advice can you give her
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- eileen — 03.04.2017 09:18
  Hi When your wife saw her doctor did they do any blood tests? If not then I would suggest that you ask them to test for low iron, low thyroid function and low vitamin D as these can all be a factor. In the meantime your wife could try the sage tablets as these are traditionally used for flushes and night sweats, she can take one with her evening meal. Also remind her to drink plenty of plain water as dehydration can be a big culprit!
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