Menopause and Sleep : Navigating Change with Better Sleep

Menopause can be a stressful time; think physical changes, emotional shifts and disrupted sleep, all happening at the same time. And, temperature fluctuations during sleep are common at every stage of life but become particularly pronounced during menopause. As hot flashes and night sweats keep many women tossing and turning throughout the night, quality sleep can often seem out of reach. However, Sleep Number’s commitment to temperature research and science-backed innovations like the ClimateCool™ smart bed are helping those experiencing menopause reclaim better sleep and improve their overall health and wellbeing.

The Menopause Sleep Connection

Menopause, a natural life transition, often disrupts the body’s ability to regulate temperature at night. Sleep Number’s latest temperature research investigates the link between sleep quality, temperature and menopause. In surveying Sleep Number’s Sleep Science Panel, a total cohort of almost 500,000 Smart Sleepers who have opted to participate in the brand’s ongoing sleep science research, female respondents ages 35 – 54 who experience moderate to severe menopause symptoms shared that menopause negatively impacts their sleep quality. The survey, which yielded responses from more than 10,550 Smart Sleepers, also revealed that nearly 90 percent of female respondents experiencing menopause or perimenopause suffer from hot flashes.

The data collected also found that:

• Even sleepers who don’t experience menopause sweat at night: 77 percent of women without menopause and 73 percent of men sweat at night, highlighting that temperature regulation is a universal sleep issue.
• Female and male respondents ages 35 – 54 are most likely to experience night sweats (84 percent). Sweating at night decreases for respondents ages 55 – 74.
• Most women experiencing menopause or perimenopause have hot flashes and 59 percent rely on multiple treatments to alleviate symptoms, including:
• Dietary/lifestyle changes (e.g., food choices, reducing alcohol, exercise, etc.): 31 percent
• Natural supplements: 25 percent
• Hormone replacement therapy: 23 percent
• Other treatment(s): 5 percent
• Not treating their symptoms: 41 percent
• Among women with menopause, 56 percent shared their temperature fluctuates during the night, while 35 percent are generally hot, five percent are generally cold and only four percent are just right.

A Commitment to Solving Menopause Sleep Issues

Menopause and women's health are critically under served areas in scientific research. As a women-led company, Sleep Number is committed to supporting women’s health through all stages and improving the health and wellbeing of society through higher quality sleep.

The company addresses chronic menopause issues through innovations, like the ClimateCool smart bed, temperature-focused research and strategic partnerships, including Northwestern University. By focusing on the unique sleep needs of women, especially during life stages like menopause, Sleep Number aims to deliver innovations that enhance wellbeing for women and their partners.

“Our purpose is to improve the health and wellbeing of society through higher quality sleep. With an aging U.S. population and nearly 1.2B women in or nearing menopause globally by 2030*, temperature is an issue greatly impacting society,” said Shelly Ibach, Chair, President and CEO, Sleep Number. “Our new ClimateCool smart bed and partnership with world-class researchers at Northwestern University supports all sleepers in their need to sleep comfortably in their optimal cooling environment. We are committed to supporting women’s health through all stages, and the ClimateCool smart bed is a meaningful innovation that will positively impact society’s wellbeing.”

To learn more about Sleep Number’s temperature solutions for higher quality sleep, visit sleepnumber.com.

*The New Menopause," Dr. Mary Claire Haver, Rodale, 2024

Like diet and exercise, quality sleep is essential for optimal wellbeing and performance. Because everyone's sleep needs are different, Sleep Number^® smart beds sense your movements and automatically adjust firmness, comfort and support to keep you both sleeping comfortably. Find your Sleep Number^® setting for your best possible night's sleep, and if you own a Sleep Number^® bed, log in to your Sleep Number^® Rewards account to see your exclusive offers, refer friends and more.