1 out of 5 people experience insomnia during perimenopause, making this perimenopause symptom very common. In this complete perimenopause insomnia guide, learn what causes insomnia, and how to sleep better in the menopausal transition and beyond.

1 out of 5 people experience insomnia during perimenopause, making this perimenopause symptom very common. In this complete perimenopause insomnia guide, learn what causes insomnia, and how to sleep better in the menopausal transition and beyond.
Can't sleep during perimenopause? You're not alone. If you're lying awake at 3 AM, tossing and turning all night, or waking up exhausted no matter how early you go to bed, you're likely experiencing perimenopause insomnia, one of the most common and frustrating symptoms of the menopausal transition.
Perimenopause sleep problems affect nearly half of all women, with 1 in 5 experiencing full-blown insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that impacts your ability to get quality, restorative sleep at night. Insomnia and other sleep problems are very common in perimenopause, and changing hormones are often partly to blame. The good news? Understanding why this happens is the first step to sleeping better.
This guide to insomnia in perimenopause has everything you need to know, including symptoms, causes, and the insomnia timeline. Plus, we’ll give you tips for how to sleep better during perimenopause, using lifestyle and natural remedies alongside medical options as needed.
H3 3 Quick Wins for Better Sleep
- Set your bedroom to 65-68°F (cool temperatures help you fall asleep faster)
- Stop drinking fluids 2 hours before bed (fewer bathroom trips = better sleep)
- Do 5 minutes of deep breathing before bed (calms your nervous system)
Does perimenopause cause insomnia?
Yes, perimenopause can cause insomnia.
Oova recently published research in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) examining the relationship between hormone decline and sleep disruption during perimenopause. Our findings confirm that declining estrogen and progesterone are primary drivers of insomnia, affecting nearly half of all women during this transition.
In fact, perimenopause insomnia is the most common sleep disorder of the menopausal transition, affecting 22% of people [1]. More largely, up to 47% of people have difficulty sleeping in perimenopause, whether from insomnia or other sleep-related issues [1].
Let’s put these numbers into context:
- 2 out of 10 women have diagnosed insomnia
- 5 out of 10 women struggle with perimenopause sleep problems
- Nearly half experience some form of sleep disruption
That means the odds are high that someone you know, or maybe even you yourself, are sleeping badly in perimenopause.
Perimenopause and sleep: Understanding the connection
Perimenopause and sleep have a complicated relationship. Sleep disturbances in perimenopause go beyond occasional restlessness, they can fundamentally change how well you sleep night after night.
Perimenopause sleep problems include:
- Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep)
- Sleep fragmentation (waking up multiple times)
- Early morning awakening (waking at 4 or 5 AM and unable to fall back asleep)
- Poor sleep quality (sleeping but not feeling rested)
- Sleep disorders (like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome)
All of these issues can leave you feeling exhausted, foggy, and irritable during the day. If you're thinking "I can't sleep during perimenopause," know that these symptoms are not in your head, they're a real and recognized part of the transition.
What are symptoms of perimenopause insomnia?
When you have perimenopause insomnia, it impacts your ability to sleep.
What does that look and feel like? Common perimenopause insomnia symptoms include [2]:
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up frequently
- Sleeping fitfully
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Being unable to fall back to sleep, whether at night or in the early morning
- Not getting enough total sleep
You need sleep to feel your best and stay healthy. When perimenopause insomnia impacts your rest, both your emotional well-being and physical health take a hit – particularly if insomnia becomes chronic (meaning it lasts more than a few months).
This can lead to wide-ranging effects throughout your daily life, including:
- Daytime fatigue
- Increased brain fog and mental cloudiness
- Increased irritability
- Increased mood swings
- Lethargy and low energy levels
- Physical exhaustion
What causes perimenopause insomnia?
Perimenopause insomnia is caused by a combination of factors, including hormone fluctuations and other perimenopause symptoms.
Do hormones cause perimenopause insomnia?
Yes. Oova's research published with ACOG confirms that hormone fluctuations are a primary cause of perimenopause insomnia.
Perimenopause is driven by a major shift in hormones, including hormones that help you get quality sleep. When these hormone levels change, it can cause insomnia and other sleep difficulties.
Estrogen, for example, makes you fall asleep faster, sleep more soundly, and sleep longer [3]. Estrogen and progesterone together help produce melatonin (the hormone that makes you sleepy at night), and they promote a regular sleep cycle [4]. Research shows that the perimenopause shifts in these hormones and others make it harder for them to regulate sleep as before, leading to sleep problems [2]:
- Estrogen declines, and low estrogen is associated with insomnia.
- Progesterone declines, and low progesterone is associated with sleep disturbances.
Understanding your hormone patterns can help you and your doctor develop a personalized treatment plan. Tracking symptoms alongside hormone levels (through at-home hormone testing) gives you concrete data to work with rather than just describing how you feel.
Read the full research findings →
Do perimenopause symptoms contribute to perimenopause insomnia?
On top of hormone changes, perimenopause symptoms that impact your ability to fall asleep and sleep soundly can also contribute to insomnia:
- Night sweats (vasomotor symptoms): These nighttime hot flashes can block sleep and jolt you awake. People with worse night sweats are more likely to have insomnia [5].
- High stress: Cortisol levels (the stress hormone) increase with perimenopause, and high cortisol plus high stress can negatively affect your sleep [2].
- More nighttime bathroom trips (nocturia): Vaginal and urinary perimenopause symptoms (collectively called genitourinary syndrome of menopause) can make you need to pee more often [6]. When nighttime bathroom trips become more frequent, your sleep quality is impacted.
- Sleep disorders: Perimenopause comes with an increased risk of sleep disorders, including conditions that affect your nighttime breathing (such as sleep apnea), and ones that make you move around more in your sleep (like restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder) [2].
How long does perimenopause insomnia last?
Here's the good news: perimenopause insomnia doesn't last forever, and you don't have to just wait it out.
The timeline:
- Early perimenopause: Sleep problems often begin as hormone fluctuations start
- Late perimenopause: Insomnia may peak as hormonal changes intensify
- Early postmenopause: Sleep disturbances can continue for 1-3 years after your final period
- Late postmenopause: Most women see improvement as hormones stabilize
However, you don't need to accept years of exhaustion! The strategies below can help you sleep better starting tonight.[1].
In the meantime, though, you don’t have to accept constant bad sleep and exhaustion from perimenopause insomnia!
Tips for how to sleep better during perimenopause
A combination of lifestyle strategies, natural remedies, and medical options as needed can all help you get better sleep in perimenopause, so you can wake up feeling rested and restored.
Prioritize your sleep hygiene:
Good sleep hygiene is key to reprogramming your sleep and supporting quality rest. Try cultivating these healthy sleep habits:
- A relaxing bedtime routine helps your body and mind wind down for sleep.
- A regular sleep schedule trains your body to be ready for bed and sleepy around the same time each day.
- An optimal sleep environment – cool, dark, quiet, and cozy – promotes sound, quality sleep.
- A screen-free bedtime eliminates the interference that screens have on sleep.
Lifestyle strategies and natural remedies for better sleep in perimenopause:
These sleep-friendly habits, lifestyle strategies, and natural remedies may help combat perimenopause insomnia:
- Exercise regularly: Low- and high-intensity exercise can significantly improve your sleep quality [4]. Try workouts like biking, jogging, walking, swimming, or fitness classes a few times a week (but not too close to bedtime).
- Eat regular meals and keep a healthy, nutritious diet: Healthy diets rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, and protein promote sleep, and eating meals regularly can help regulate your sleep cycle [7]. Eat early dinners, so your body has time to digest before rest.
- Hydrate, but avoid drinking too close to bedtime: Stay hydrated throughout the day, then aim to stop drinking fluids a couple hours before bed to limit nighttime bathroom trips.
- Cut back on stimulants: Limit (or eliminate) coffee, alcohol, and smoking to reduce the impact these substances have on sleep.
- Reduce stress: Easing stress, anxiety, and emotional distress can boost well-being and improve sleep. Try doing mindfulness practices, relaxation techniques, meditation, and deep breathing techniques regularly, while also making time for activities that bring you joy.
Natural remedies and therapies for better sleep in perimenopause:
Some therapeutic remedies that don’t involve medication can also help reduce perimenopause insomnia and improve sleep:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I): CBT-I) is one of the most effective treatments for perimenopause sleep problems, with research showing it can be as effective as medication without side effects. CBT-I helps you identify behaviors that interfere with sleep and develop personalized strategies for falling & staying asleep [8].
- Light therapy: Light therapy, which involves sitting near a light box or other light source for a set amount of time each day, can help regulate your sleep cycle to promote quality sleep [1].
- Vitamins and supplements: Supplements like B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc may help improve sleep [7]. Always talk to your doctor before trying vitamins and supplements.
Medication for better sleep in perimenopause:
In some cases, medication may be useful for improving sleep in perimenopause. Your doctor can help you weigh the benefits and risks to decide if medication may be right for you. (Of course, your doctor can also recommend lifestyle strategies and natural remedies!)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which stabilizes hormone fluctuations, is one common treatment for perimenopause symptoms. HRT is particularly effective for night sweats, and reducing night sweats can improve sleep [9,2].
Sleep medication can also be a useful short-term option for better sleep during perimenopause. Long-term use generally isn’t recommended.
Sleep better during perimenopause: The bottom line
Perimenopause sleep problems and insomnia are incredibly common, affecting nearly half of all women. While changing hormones play a major role, the good news is that you have options.
Start with the basics: Optimize your sleep environment, stick to a consistent sleep schedule, and limit caffeine and alcohol. Add therapeutic support: Consider CBT-I or light therapy for drug-free solutions. Talk to your doctor: Hormone replacement therapy can address the root cause, while sleep medications may help in the short term.
Most importantly, remember: if you can't sleep during perimenopause, you're not broken, you're experiencing a normal (if frustrating) part of the transition. With the right support and strategies, better sleep is possible.
Ready to understand what's happening with your hormones? Learn more about Oova.
Frequently Asked Questions About Perimenopause Insomnia
Why can't I sleep during perimenopause even though I'm exhausted?
Declining estrogen and progesterone disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep even when you're tired. Night sweats and stress also interrupt sleep quality.
Is insomnia a sign of early perimenopause?
It can be. Sleep disturbances are one of the earliest signs of perimenopause for many women, sometimes appearing before irregular periods.
Will I ever sleep normally again after perimenopause?
Yes! Most women see significant improvement in sleep quality in late postmenopause as hormones stabilize. In the meantime, the strategies in this guide can help.
Should I take melatonin for perimenopause insomnia?
Melatonin may help some women, but it's not a long-term solution. Talk to your doctor about whether it's appropriate for you and the right dosage.
About the author

Sources
- Troìa L, et al. (2025). Sleep Disturbance and Perimenopause: A Narrative Review.
- Haufe A & Leener B. (2023). Sleep Disturbances Across a Woman's Lifespan: What Is the Role of Reproductive Hormones?
- Lee J, et al. (2019). Sleep Disorders and Menopause.
- Park KM, et al. (2024). Sleep Disturbance in Perimenopausal Women.
- Delamater L & Santoro N. (2018). Management of the Perimenopause.
- Karen Carlson K & Nguyen H. (2024). Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause.
- Erdélyi A, et al. (2023). The Importance of Nutrition in Menopause and Perimenopause—A Review.
- Ntikoudi A, et al. (2024). The Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Insomnia Severity Among Menopausal Women: A Scoping Review.
- North American Menopause Society. (2022). The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society.
About the Oova Blog:
Our content is developed with a commitment to high editorial standards and reliability. We prioritize referencing reputable sources and sharing where our insights come from. The Oova Blog is intended for informational purposes only and is never a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before making any health decisions.
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