Three Things You Need To Know: About Sleep And The Menopause...

It's a thrill to see so many conversations, and so much content published, around a topic that so often is lurking under the radar, but one that impacts so many in the workplace - whether directly, or indirectly. With 15.5 million menopausal women in the UK, and one billion impacted worldwide, this is a conversation that needs to be in the spotlight!

Our brand new monthly newsletter will offer three insights, links, tools or education pieces from our team of doctors and sleep experts, each with a wealth of information and best practice to share.

This month, here are three things you need to know about Sleep And The Menopause..

The Real Relationship Between Anxiety, Sleep, and Menopause

Anxiety is one of the most common and most disruptive symptoms during perimenopause and menopause, and it can impact all aspects of your life. Did you know that anxiety impacts your ability to get to sleep and negatively impacts the quality of your sleep. On the flip side by improving sleep you can improve your anxiety as well as all other menopause symptoms.?

Click here to read more about anxiety and sleep - read more about Anxiety and Sleep

Struggling with Sleep During Menopause & Motherhood? (You’re Not Alone)

For about 1-2% of women, menopause can begin before the age of 40, while many others start experiencing perimenopause in their early 40s. With more women starting families later, many find themselves juggling menopause symptoms while caring for young children. You’re certainly not alone if it feels overwhelming—60% of menopausal women report sleep disturbances, from night sweats to insomnia, which can leave you feeling exhausted, especially when caring for a child.

If managing your own sleep while dealing with a child’s night-time needs sounds familiar, we’re here to support you. This Menopause Awareness Month, join us for a morning of sleep, wellbeing, and Pilates, specifically for menopausal mums on 11th October.

Hosted by Caitlin, Dinah, and Emily Courtney , who are passionate about supporting mums, this event is all about helping you find balance and feel your best. You deserve care too—let’s navigate this together!

Head over to Mothering And The Menopause to find out more about Emily's work, supporting mothers in the workplace.

Not all Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) regimes are equal when it comes to sleep?

While HRT is often seen as the miracle cure, for many women, their sleep (and often other symptoms) remain problematic even once HRT is started. So what next? In my clinical experience as an NHS menopause doctor and as a sleep expert there are two strategies:

• Optimise HRT - get the dose, the regime and the timings right and considered a body identical progesterone like Utrogestan which is superior for sleep.
• If this does not fix the sleep problem (or if HRT is not wanted or possible) then a Sleep Therapy based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the next step. It will fix sleep problems in 70-80% of cases and normally takes just a few weeks to complete.?

To summarise, here are the three things you need to take away this month:

1. Anxiety is one of the most common and most disruptive symptoms during perimenopause and menopause, sleep is one way to improve this symptom.
2. Menopause and Motherhood can feel overwheming, and the ripple effect of poor sleep is significant. Make a note in your diary and join us on 11th October, or catch up afterwards.
3. Different solutions will suit each individual, exploring CBT-I is a great step, and there is plenty of support to walk you through this.

Finally, to celebrate Menopause Awareness Month we are offering a 30% discount for our Menopause & Sleep Package. Find out more here, using coupon code MOCT30 (valid until 4th November).

Questions, thoughts, anything you want to know more about? Get in touch with us to continue the conversation.

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