Why Am I Suddenly Getting Sweaty at Night?

Everyone’s temperature fluctuates throughout the day and night. You may be chilly before you go to bed and dress in heavy pajamas, only to wake up warm and ready to throw off your blanket in the middle of the night. If you regularly wake up with sweaty clothing, you may be experiencing night sweats.

Symptoms of night sweats include waking up with your pillow, sheets, and nighttime wear saturated with sweat. They can interfere with your sleep quality and, subsequently, your energy level the next day. Reasons for night sweats include fever, certain medications, anxiety, and alcohol. However, the most common cause of night sweats is the hormonal changes that come with menopause. 

Fortunately, there are effective ways to treat problematic symptoms of menopause, including night sweats and hot flashes. At Female Health Associates of North Texas, located in Fort Worth, Texas, board-certified urogynecologist Dr. Jeffrey Hantes can help you determine the cause of your night sweats and develop a treatment plan to minimize or eliminate them.

Menopause and night sweats

One of the most common menopause symptoms is hot flashes. About 85% of women report experiencing hot flashes, and 65% of those women report night sweats. These hot flashes that occur at night significantly disturb their sleep. While hot flashes only last for a couple of minutes, they can happen several times in a night. 

During perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, menopause, and postmenopause, your ovaries produce less estrogen. The change and fluctuation in estrogen production can affect the part of your brain that regulates temperature, leading to irregularities like intense heat followed by profuse sweating. 

Night sweat treatment options

Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your physical and mental well-being. Therefore, seek treatment if night sweats interfere with your sleep. If, during a diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Hantes determines your night sweats are caused by perimenopause or menopause, he may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help relieve your night sweats. HRT can also help manage other menopause symptoms such as bone loss, pain with intercourse, vaginal dryness, irritability, and moodiness. 

Estrogen and progesterone are the primary hormones used to treat night sweats. If you don’t have a uterus, Dr. Hantes may prescribe estrogen without progesterone with the lowest dose of HRT that’s effective for your symptoms. If you can’t take hormones because of other health issues or you have an elevated risk of developing breast cancer, Dr. Hantes can create an alternative treatment plan.

Don’t let menopause symptoms such as night sweats interfere with your quality of life. Call Female Associates of North Texas today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation to get treatment for hot flashes so you can sleep soundly through the night. You can also request an appointment online through our website.