Sleep disturbances in midlife women: prevalence, correlates, and treatments

Sleep disturbances, including fragmented and poor-quality sleep and clinical insomnia, are common in midlife women and may be attributed in part to the menopause transition. Sleep disturbances often co-occur with depressive and anxiety symptoms, vasomotor symptoms, substance use, trauma history, and relationship stressors during midlife. Chronic sleep disturbance is related to poorer health and productivity. Numerous pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments exist for sleep disturbance, including evidence-based cognitive-behavioral sleep interventions. Clinicians should query midlife women about their sleep and provide support, resources, and connection to sleep specialists or sleep interventions to improve women's long-term health and well-being.