Sleep in Menopause

Abstract

Sleep disturbances affect 40–60% of menopausal women, yet links between sleep patterns, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), and bedroom factors like sleepwear are underexplored. This thesis investigated sleep behaviours, VMS, and sleepwear effects in menopausal women through four studies.

Study 1 examined sleep timing and VMS using MotionWatch8 actigraphy. Most women showed moderate symptoms and some irregularities but over half slept eight hours or more. No significant links were found between sleep parameters and VMS.

Study 2 validated MotionWatch8 against PSG under warm lab conditions, finding it overestimated total sleep time and sleep efficiency and underestimated sleep latency and WASO, highlighting limits in wake detection.

Study 3 systematically reviewed how sleepwear and bedding fibres affect sleep. Wool sleepwear eased sleep onset under cool and warm conditions in adults; linen sheets and down duvets also showed temperature-specific benefits. However, no prior studies focused on menopausal women, indicating a research gap.

Study 4, a pilot trial, compared wool vs. cotton sleepwear at 30°C. Objectively, no significant differences emerged. Subjectively, wool sleepwear increased contentedness on waking, while cotton rated higher for pre-sleep comfort.

In summary, this thesis provides new insights into the complex interactions among menopausal symptoms, sleep, and thermal environment. Findings stress the need for improved monitoring tools, research in women with severe VMS, and larger trials to confirm how sleepwear fabrics impact sleep quality and comfort in menopause.