Night sweats

A night sweat is essentially a hot flash you have during sleep. Night sweats can be mild (waking up with slight perspiration) or severe (waking up with drenched sheets, pillow, pajamas and hair).

Menopause and night sweats

Night sweats are one of the most common symptoms of perimenopause (the first stage of menopause) and often appear even before periods become irregular. You may experience night sweats before or after your first hot flash. They may happen more often at a certain point in your menstrual cycle, or they can come and go with no obvious trigger. 

How long you have them depends on how much time your body takes to transition through perimenopause and menopause. The menopausal transition usually lasts about seven years but can last as long as 14 years.

Impact of night sweats

On their own, night sweats are not damaging. They’re a natural response to an increase in body temperature. However, severe night sweats can rob you of sleep, which impacts your relationships, mood, work and even thinking.

Lifestyle tips

Manage night sweats with simple lifestyle changes.

Sleep
Stress management
Smoking
Diet
Weight management
Exercise

Treatment options

If night sweats affect your quality of life, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from one or more of these treatments.

Medication
Alternative therapies

Frequently asked questions

What causes night sweats?
I don’t have hot flashes, but I do have night sweats. Is this normal?
How long will I have night sweats?
Can night sweats damage my long-term health?

Contact us

Talk to a care navigator or schedule an appointment at the Women’s Health & Wellness Center.