Espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/p>\n The years of the menopausal transition<\/a> are often a time when there are other changes in a woman\u2019s life. You may be caring for aging parents, supporting children as they move into adulthood, taking on more responsibilities at work, and reflecting on your own life journey. Add symptoms of menopause on top of all this, and you may find yourself having trouble sleeping at night<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some women who have trouble sleeping may use over-the-counter sleep aids such as melatonin<\/a>. Others use prescription medications<\/a> to help them sleep, which may help when used for a short time. But these are not a cure for sleep disturbances, such as insomnia<\/a>, and should not be used long term.<\/p>\n Not getting enough sleep can affect all areas of life. Lack of sleep can make you feel irritable or depressed, might cause you to be more forgetful<\/a> than normal, and could lead to more falls<\/a> or accidents. And research now suggests that waking from sleep itself may trigger hot flashes, rather than the other way around.<\/p>\n Developing healthy habits at bedtime can help you get a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.nia.nih.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/inline-images\/sleep-problems-menopause-inline_1.jpg\")
Hot flashes<\/a>, especially night sweats, and changes in mood \u2014 depression<\/a> in particular \u2014 can contribute to poor sleep. Managing these issues may help to manage sleep symptoms as well.<\/p>\n