| Title: | Sleep problems persist in middle-aged women and influence changes in health but are moderated by menopause and its treatment |
| Journal: | Climacteric |
| Published: | 12 May 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42118132/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1080/13697137.2026.2627567 |
Publication 20088
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the self-reported sleep problems of middle-aged women who had not menstruated for more than a year (postmenopause), those who have menstruated within the last year (premenopausal/perimenopausal) and those who could not have menstruated for medical reasons (e.g. hysterectomy).</p>
METHOD: The UK Biobank dataset was utilized to conduct cross-sectional (approximately N = 200,000) and longitudinal (approximately N = 20,000) analyses, drawing on responses from baseline and follow-up self-reported questionnaires.</p>
RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, self-reported sleep duration (p < 0.001) and a composite measure of sleep problems (problematic sleep index) (p < 0.001) showed consistent differences across these 'menopausal' groups. Longitudinally, sleep duration and sleep problems increased with age (both p < 0.001), length of time within the study (i.e. aging) (p < 0.001), perceived overall health (p < 0.001) and health change (p < 0.001). Menopause exacerbated these effects; however, the decline in sleep quality was mitigated by hormone replacement therapy (p < 0.05), particularly among women in premenopausal/perimenopausal stage and those in whom menopause was well established (p < 0.05).</p>
CONCLUSION: While not supported by objective measures of sleep, health or hormones, these results add substantially to the literature on women's sleep, health and menopause, highlighting the potential benefits of early, tailored interventions and timely hormone replacement therapy use for improving sleep and well-being in midlife.</p>
2 Authors
- John A. Groeger
- Piril Hepsomali
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 61818 | Understanding the associations between sleep, diet, mental health and cognition |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health