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Sleep & My Hormones

By MedStudio Staff

As we age, all of us begin to experience a reduction in our natural hormone levels. The reduction of the hormones Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone in women and Testosterone in men can cause a lot of symptoms affecting your health and the way you feel.

Think you Have A Sleep Disorder?

If you think you might have a prolonged problem with sleep, you may need to see your medical provider about having a sleep study performed. However, studies show women especially have greater problems going to sleep and staying asleep than most men.1

When hormone levels are normal as they were when you were younger, sleep under normal conditions usually isn’t a problem. As your body ages, sleep may become a huge problem, because important natural hormone amounts get lower as we age naturally. Many people try sleep medications such as Ambien, or to an antidepressant such as Lexapro, Cymbalta, Celexa, Prozac, or Paxil. Daytime drowsiness and other major side effects should be carefully considered when weighing treatment options. Women who have trouble sleeping experience daytime sleepiness, an increased accident rate, difficulty concentrating, and the effects can be seen in their performance on their jobs or in school.

You don’t feel like you did before, and may think that a good night’s sleep is a thing of the past. Many people self report going to bed and finally sleeping for an hour, then waking up unable to return to sleep. (Might even get up and watch TV or read a book waiting for sleep to return. Does this sound familiar – checking Facebook in the middle of the night?) Miserable, and unable to sleep, you might toss and turn in bed and sleep for two or three hours only to find yourself wide awake again.

Tossing and turning all night, you finally give up trying to sleep – ending up frustrated, angry and tired – all hours before your alarm clock even goes off.

Many of our patients have self reported on how their sleep patterns have improved since being on natural hormone therapy.

“I felt rested when I woke in the morning.”

“Since I have been on hormone therapy I have had the best night sleep in 5 years.”

“I can sleep at night since beginning hormone therapy.”

Sleep disturbances are much more common during perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, and after menopause until the natural hormones are replaced. Night sweats (hot flashes at night) may interrupt sleep throughout the night.

Progesterone is an important hormone that helps women sleep. By age 35, women will begin to lose progesterone (made in the ovaries) especially during the last half of the menstrual cycle. Estradiol (a form of estrogen) also affects the brain and how we sleep. When these two essential hormones are replaced naturally, many people find they sleep all night long and wake rested. Additionally, many of our patients with Restless Leg Syndrome have experienced relief of symptoms with the use of natural hormone therapy allowing them to sleep more soundly at night.

Interested in learning more?

Women (and even men) should not have to suffer in silence. If you have symptoms and want relief, contact someone at MedStudio to find out more. And of course, information is great when evaluating and learning about your health choices. Ultimately, only a qualified licensed medical provider can make a qualified diagnosis and recommendation.  While this document is not to be used to diagnose, treat or cure any type of illness or health condition, we hope it will make you interested enough to seek more information and get your life back. After all, it’s Your Health. Your Choice. Your Journey. We are here to guide you.

1                      http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/women-and-sleep