Is There a Cure for My Menopausal Night Sweats?

While the transition into menopause is unavoidable, you might wonder if there’s anything you can do about menopausal night sweats.

Here at the Center for Women's Health - Mid Atlantic Women's Care, our team of experienced and compassionate gynecologists helps women navigate every stage of their lives, from puberty through menopause and beyond. While the transition through menopause is unavoidable, there are steps we can take to ease this transition and improve your quality of life.

Is there a cure for menopausal night sweats?

There isn’t a “cure” for menopause 一 or its many symptoms 一 because menopause is a natural process that can’t be avoided. Menopause is a milestone marked by 12 consecutive months without a period, and perimenopause is the months (or years) leading up to that transition.

While you can’t cure night sweats, there is good news: There are many things you can do to help ease your transition into menopause and reduce the frequency of your night sweats. 

Lifestyle modifications

About 80% of women experience night sweats and hot flashes. Both night sweats and hot flashes are a result of temperature dysfunction 一 a dysfunction that occurs because of changes in your gonadal hormones. Healthy lifestyle habits such as eating fresh, nutrient-dense foods (especially foods rich in phytoestrogens and omega-3 fatty acids), exercising regularly, and avoiding your triggers can help balance your hormones. 

The following are common triggers for night sweats:

• Smoking
• Drinking caffeinated beverages 
• Spicy foods (can also trigger hot flashes)
• Sleeping in tight and/or non-breathable pajamas 
• Sleeping in a hot room
• Stress
• Drinking alcohol (especially before bed)

Take note of which triggers affect you the most and do your best to avoid them. You might consider adjusting your thermostat to make your bedroom cooler. Many women also feel more comfortable with cooling pillows and cooling mattress toppers. Dress in lightweight, loose-fitting pajamas made of breathable fabric.

Menopause care

Although lifestyle modifications go a long way in helping you manage your menopause symptoms, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll be night-sweat-free. That’s why we offer menopause care in both of our Virginia locations. 

Menopause care refers to specialty care designed to help manage the unpleasant symptoms of menopause from night sweats to vaginal dryness to mood swings and beyond. Our team may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) 一 a therapy designed to help balance your hormones. 

Each HRT treatment plan is unique. Your OB/GYN here at The Center for Women's Health reviews your hormone levels (done with a simple blood draw) and determines which hormone (and how much) you need in order to minimize the effects of menopause. Not only is the type of hormone and dose customizable, but you can also choose from a variety of formats. HRT comes in many forms including topical creams, injections, oral pills, patches, and implants. 

If night sweats, hot flashes, and other perimenopause/menopause symptoms are keeping you from feeling like yourself, don’t suffer in silence any longer. Reach out to our team and start exploring the benefits of menopause care for yourself. 

To schedule an appointment, contact one of our two locations in Newport News and Hampton, Virginia.