New research presented at the 2024 annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) highlights a potential link between estrogen levels and sleep quality during perimenopause. Amy Divaraniya, PhD, founder and CEO of Oova, led the study and emphasized the importance of addressing sleep issues during this transitional phase. According to Divaraniya, “Difficulty sleeping is one of the most common symptoms women experience during the perimenopausal transition; however, understanding of the underlying physiology and, more importantly, treatment options, remains limited.”
The study involved 503 participants, all of whom self-identified as perimenopausal, with an average age of 44. These participants used Oova’s at-home hormone monitoring kit, which tracks sleep patterns and hormone levels, including estrogen (E3G), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone (PdG). The data collected allowed the researchers to explore correlations between hormone fluctuations and sleep duration.
At the conclusion of the study, scientists discovered that participants who slept between six to nine hours a night had significantly higher levels of E3G, the estrogen marker, compared to those who slept only three to six hours. Interestingly, there were no notable differences in the levels of LH and PdG between the groups. This finding suggests a strong link between higher estrogen levels and better sleep quality during perimenopause. Divaraniya noted, “We were surprised to see such a significant correlation between E3G levels and the hours of sleep women were getting each night.”
These results point to the possibility of future interventions aimed at improving sleep to alleviate the symptoms caused by fluctuating hormone levels during perimenopause. Divaraniya expressed optimism, stating, “Once the physiological pathway associated with sleep disturbances is fully understood, interventions can be developed to address specific points within it to support women.” She also mentioned plans to analyze other perimenopausal symptoms to see if similar hormonal patterns can be identified, which could lead to even broader treatment options.
For women currently experiencing sleep difficulties during perimenopause, tracking both sleep patterns and hormone levels could offer valuable insights. Divaraniya recommends that women start monitoring their sleep duration and hormone fluctuations, especially estrogen levels, as restless nights might indicate a decline in estrogen. This tracking can help in understanding the root causes of sleep disturbances and could eventually lead to better treatment options.
Dr. Sherry Ross, a board-certified OB/GYN, also emphasized the importance of this research, stating that it is high time the connection between sleep disruption and estrogen fluctuations in perimenopause is taken seriously. “Much more research needs to be done,” Ross said, adding that this should include other variables like diet, exercise, and stress, as well as developing more treatment options for women navigating perimenopause.
By improving sleep, women may be able to reduce many of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with perimenopause, making this an area of increasing focus for future research.