You already know the routine. You fall asleep fine, then wake up at 2 a.m. with your shirt stuck to your back and your pillowcase damp. So, you peel off a layer, flip the pillow, wait to cool down and hope you drift off again before the alarm.

If this sounds familiar, you have plenty of company. An Amerisleep survey found that 49% of Americans regularly wake up drenched in sweat. For women in menopause or perimenopause, sweating at night is often tied to hormonal shifts that make the body’s internal thermostat less predictable.

The good news is you don’t have to just power through it. Understanding what causes night sweats and what actually helps can make a real difference in how you sleep and how you show up the next day.

Why do menopause and perimenopause cause night sweats?

Shifting hormone levels during menopause and perimenopause can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. That interference triggers hot flashes, which often strike during sleep and lead to heavy night sweating.

A study published in Menopause found that women who rated their hot flashes as bothersome were nearly twice as likely to experience disrupted sleep compared to those without hot flashes.

Aging

How To Prevent Night Sweats: 7 Tips To Keep Cool and Sleep On

Waking up drenched, kicking off the covers, flipping the pillow to the cool side—if that sounds like your 3 a.m. reality, you’re far from alone. Up to 80 percent of menopausal women experience night sweats, and on average they can last about seven years, according to Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and […]

Can night sweats affect how I function during the day?

Yes. A 2021 study in the Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes found that sleep disruption from menopause-related hot flashes carried over into waking hours. Women reported impacts on work productivity, concentration, mood, relationships and physical health.

If you’ve ever sat through a morning meeting running on broken sleep, this probably tracks.

How to stay cool while sleeping without running the AC all night

Sleep Foundation recommends starting with lightweight, breathable and moisture-wicking bedding and sleepwear. These help heat and sweat escape instead of trapping them against your skin.

A fan moves warm air away from the body. Keeping blinds closed during the day and opening windows once it cools off can lower bedroom temperature without touching the thermostat.

For more targeted relief, bed cooling systems let you sleep cool on your side of the bed without chilling the whole room. They’re worth considering if your partner runs cold or you want to cut back on AC costs.

What if my night sweats aren’t caused by hormones?

Menopause and perimenopause are among the most common reasons for night sweats in midlife women, but it’s not the only one. Cleveland Clinic notes that night sweats can also be connected to medications, anxiety, infections and other health conditions.

Obstructive sleep apnea is another possibility. A study in BMJ Open found that roughly one in three untreated OSA patients experienced frequent night sweats, about triple the rate in the comparison group. Treatment with PAP therapy brought those numbers down significantly.

Do night sweats actually hurt sleep quality?

They do. A review in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that heat exposure during sleep increases wakefulness while cutting into both deep sleep and REM sleep. Humid heat makes the effect even worse.

The BMJ Open study of sleep apnea patients also linked frequent night sweating to insomnia symptoms, trouble falling asleep and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Aging

Tired of Waking up Drenched in Sweat? Here’s How To Stop Night Sweats

Waking up in the middle of the night flushed and drenched with sweat is, unfortunately, one of the most common symptoms of menopause. If you’re roused from your slumber while sweating at night, there are lots of things you can do to get relief. Read on for tips on how to stop night sweats in […]

When should I talk to my doctor about night sweats?

If your symptoms have lasted more than a week or they’re getting worse, it’s worth raising with your doctor. That’s especially important if you’re also noticing fever, unexplained weight loss or swollen lymph nodes.

Colleen Clayton, MD, a family medicine physician, told Cleveland Clinic: “There are enough causes that I recommend getting evaluated if your symptoms last more than a week. You deserve a good night’s rest, both for your own peace of mind and for your overall health.”

What should I do when I wake up drenched in sweat?

Keep dry, breathable sleepwear and a spare pillowcase within reach. Swapping into something dry and shifting to a cool section of the bed can help you cool down faster without fully waking up.

Managing moisture matters as much as managing heat. Damp fabric stays uncomfortable long after your body temperature drops, which makes falling back asleep harder than it needs to be.

If you’re waking up drenched regularly, a bed cooling system can help keep your temperature steady through the night so you’re less likely to wake up soaked in the first place.

Menopause brings hormone shifts that quietly erode bone and muscle, and a growing number of women are strapping on weighted vests to push back. Doctors say the vests can help, but only with the right consistency.

What happens to bones during perimenopause and menopause?

Estrogen decline during perimenopause accelerates bone loss, and the drop-off can be steep. According to the Endocrine Society, up to 20% of bone loss can happen during these stages, and approximately one in 10 women over the age of 60 are affected by osteoporosis worldwide.

Menopause typically begins in a woman’s late 40s or early 50s and lasts about seven years, according to PennState Health. “Estrogen helps you build bones,” said Dr. Raliat Bashua, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center. “When your estrogen levels start fluctuating, you don’t maintain as much bone mass.” One in two postmenopausal women will have osteoporosis, the Endocrine Society added, and fractures are linked to decreased quality of life and increased mortality.

Wellness

How To Improve Bone Health After 50: A Doctor’s Simple Guide

Sure, we’ve all heard that the risk of developing osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones) increases with age. But the years around menopause are when many women begin losing bone mass faster than they can rebuild it, putting us at higher risk for painful breaks. Fortunately, knowing how to improve your bone health now can protect […]

How does a weighted vest support bone health during menopause?

Weighted vests add resistance to everyday movement, stimulating bones to grow denser and helping women build the muscle that midlife tends to strip away. “Adding a weighted vest to functional activities and exercise is a great way to stimulate your bones to grow stronger and denser, as well as increase resistance to functional movement patterns and improve overall muscle strength,” Lauren Geisbert, D.P.T., told Eating Well.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OBGYN and author of The New York Times bestseller The New Menopause, has helped popularize the vests with her more than 2 million Instagram and TikTok followers. She told Fortune she owns six vests and wears one about an hour a day during Zoom calls, treadmill walks and household chores. “This is a gift to your future self to help keep your bones and muscles strong and even make them stronger, so that you’re more resilient to the effects of aging,” Haver said.

How long should you wear a weighted vest each day?

Start slow as to not overwork your body. “Start by using a weighted vest one to two times per week on familiar walks to allow your body to adapt without overloading your muscles or joints,” Sarah Pelc Graca, CPT, a personal trainer and founder of Strong with Sarah Weight Loss Coaching, told Women’s Health.

Wearing it for hours at a stretch can backfire. “Prolonged use (several hours) can lead to joint strain, muscle fatigue and posture issues if the weight is too heavy or worn for too long, so it’s important to gradually introduce weight and duration to avoid overloading your body,” Pelc Graca said. Whatever routine you choose, stick with it. “You can’t just wear a weighted vest for a few months and then stop, because you’ll quickly lose that new bone,” Caroline K. Messer, MD, a double board-certified internist and endocrinologist in New York City, told Allure. “You have to pick something that’s actually realistic for your lifestyle.”

Why are weighted vests trending among women over 40?

The vests have taken off partly because doctors like Haver are urging patients to defend muscle and bone before serious loss sets in, and partly because attitudes toward midlife women’s health are shifting. “The muscle is something that the aging process chips away at, but it’s not inevitable,” Haver told Fortune, adding that “you have to work at it.”

The trend has critics too. Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a historian, professor at The New School and author of Fit Nation, told 19th News that the pressure cuts both ways. “It feels a little bit like this Army of Women who are never allowed to stop working on their fitness, even when they’re going about their day,” she said. “The idea or the reality that we women who are already carrying so much are now carrying an extra burden to do all of that can sometimes feel, well, a little much.”

When you finally reach menopause, life doesn’t suddenly stop moving just because it has begun. Instead, you find a way to juggle family life, work and a never-ending to-do list all while battling hot flashes, brain fog and insomnia. Screen Actors Guild Award-winning Grey’s Anatomy actress Kate Walsh, 58, is no stranger to finding that balance, even while playing the beloved Dr. Addison Montgomery on the hit series. In an exclusive interview with Woman’s World, Walsh shared how she navigated early menopause while on Grey’s Anatomy, what she wants other women to know about menopause and why she partnered with Centrum to shift the conversation from anti-aging to healthy aging.

Kate Walsh experienced early menopause on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ 

Despite playing a surgeon on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, Walsh says it wasn’t her on-screen roles that taught her about menopause, but instead her own experience with it while playing the character.

“I went through early menopause,” Walsh told Woman’s World.  “Technically, it started when I was on Grey’s [Anatomy], and then it went into Private Practice and then they incorporated it into the storyline for Addison, as often happens when you’re on a show. That’s if you’re lucky enough to be on a show that has success, and then they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re storylines. Hey, let’s take something out of your life.’”

“It was really difficult because even then, that was, gosh, almost 20 years ago [or] 18 years ago, and there wasn’t a lot of information still in the culture like there is now,” Walsh continued. “Now menopause is… let’s say menopause is having a moment. She’s the pretty girl at the dance. You know everyone’s aware of perimenopause and menopause, which is fabulous, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating or challenging. My own experience with it was really how I got how I got aware of it. You’re like, welcome to some hot flashes and night sweats and sleeplessness and anxiety. Whew, bring it on.”

Wellness

Menopause Early or Later? That’s More Common Than You Think

As a society, we’re having more conversations about women’s health and all that comes with it, including key developmental stages like menopause. While some women may have been lucky to learn what’s going on with their bodies through education, friends or a medical provider who was intentional about sharing knowledge, many others don’t know much […]

What is early menopause?

You may be familiar with menopause, but if you’re wondering what experiencing early menopause refers to, Anna Cabeca, DO, FACOG, triple-board certified ob-gyn, regenerative and integrative medicine physician, offers some insight.

“Early menopause is menopause that occurs between ages 40 and 45,” says Dr. Cabeca. “When menopause occurs before age 40, we generally refer to it as premature menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency, depending on the circumstances.”

The menopause symptoms Kate Walsh missed 

While we’ve all heard about hot flashes and insomnia, that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll recognize the symptoms in ourselves—especially if you start menopause earlier than expected. 

“Because I was also at a time where I was still getting like four or five hours’ sleep, and I was working crazy hours, it was kind of easily masked by my work schedule and the nature of the work that we’re doing— the emotional things and highs and lows,” says Walsh. “Not getting a lot of sleep was sort of my MO, and it wasn’t until after when I was like, ‘Oh, I need sleep.’” 

“So it was sort of masked for a while,” she continues. 

Why we don’t always recognize the signs of menopause

Dr. Cabeca says that Walsh’s experience of not recognizing menopause symptoms is not uncommon. “When women are juggling demanding careers, families, caregiving, travel or simply very busy lives, it can be incredibly easy to attribute menopause symptoms to stress,” Dr. Cabeca explains. “You assume the brain fog is because you’re overworked. You blame poor sleep on deadlines. You think the fatigue is because you’re doing too much or the weight changes are because you haven’t had time to exercise. Meanwhile, your hormones may be shifting underneath all of that.”

Walsh’s advice for women entering menopause? “Getting support, self-care, getting and being patient with yourself, honestly, maybe as basic as that sounds, and surrendering to it as opposed to, ‘I’ve got to fight this, I’ve got to stop this,’” says Walsh. “And this segues into why I wanted to partner with Centrum, because it’s about a holistic approach to aging and health, not just from the inside out, but really going, ‘Okay, we’re not going to stop this. We’re not going to turn aging back. We have to embrace where we are, and how can we do it in the most holistic, healthful way, both externally and internally?’”

Aging

Melinda French Gates, 61, Says It Took 3 Doctors To Diagnose Her Perimenopause

You think you’ve just entered the life stage you’ve heard so much about: perimenopause. Perhaps you’ve been experiencing symptoms like mood changes or difficulty concentrating, and you’re left wondering: Could this be perimenopause? If you’ve struggled to get a clear answer from your doctor, you’re not alone. In an interview on Healthful with Norah O’Donnell, […]

Walsh’s approach to healthy aging 

When it comes to menopause and aging, some messaging seems to center around anti-aging and preventing the inevitable, but Walsh takes a much more holistic approach. She shares that rather than following a strict, inflexible wellness regimen, she honors what her body needs. “I give myself permission to change my mind and change my schedule,” says Walsh. 

“If you’re like, ‘Oh, I didn’t get enough sleep last night. Even though I have that workout scheduled, I’m going to cancel it so I can sleep because that’s actually what my body needs,’ as opposed to pushing through, and that’s going to make me feel inflamed, cranky and have negative returns,” she says.

Flexibility and honoring where she’s at is also the approach she takes to healthy aging. To Walsh, healthy aging means “a lot of acceptance and surrender.”

“Also, I think it’s an important part of what we’re doing here,” she continues. “It’s storytelling. It’s like changing the narrative and talking about how it’s healthy to age. We’re lucky to age. Like, yay, we’re still here! And how do we do it as opposed to avoiding it or fighting it or stopping it or changing it? It’s like how do we embrace it and be mindful and enjoy it?”

The bottom line

While starting menopause may feel like stepping into the unknown, taking a page from Walsh’s book and embracing the blessing of aging while supporting your body through all its stages is a great place to start.

Waking up drenched, kicking off the covers, flipping the pillow to the cool side—if that sounds like your 3 a.m. reality, you’re far from alone. Up to 80 percent of menopausal women experience night sweats, and on average they can last about seven years, according to Lauren Streicher, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. But you don’t have to just ride it out. Here’s what’s really behind those middle-of-the-night flare-ups—and how to prevent night sweats from stealing another night of rest.

What causes night sweats?

“A night sweat is a hot flash that happens at night. There’s no difference except the time of the day it occurs,” Dr. Streicher explains.

The most common cause of night sweats traces back to shifting hormones. “There’s an area in the brain that acts as an internal thermostat, and if you’re not producing enough estrogen, this thermostat malfunctions,” she says. “Essentially, your body’s thermostat is broken, and it thinks it has to heat up when it doesn’t.”

Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic, adds that the hypothalamus—the brain’s “sleep center”—also manages automatic body functions. When it becomes unstable during menopause, it can lead to night sweats. In one study, 78 percent of postmenopausal women ages 54 to 65 reported experiencing night sweats.

Menopause isn’t the only driver behind these sleep-sapping episodes. Dr. Teitelbaum says low blood sugar and infections can also trigger night sweats. If yours don’t line up with midlife hormonal shifts, talk to your doctor to figure out what could be behind them and rule out any underlying health conditions.

Wellness

9 Sleep Hygiene Tips Helping Women Over 50 Finally Sleep Deeply

If a full night’s rest feels harder to come by these days, you’re not imagining it. For so many of us over 50, the deep, easy sleep of our younger years has slipped away—and hormones deserve much of the blame. The good news? A handful of small, doable habits can dramatically improve what’s known as […]

How to prevent night sweats: 6 proven tips

To prevent night sweats, give these expert-backed remedies a try.

Ask about hormone therapy

The first line of treatment for menopause symptoms related to changes in hormone levels is often hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). “Hormone replacement therapy is statistically your most effective option and the quickest and most reliable path to symptom improvement,” says Mindy Goldman, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California San Francisco. If HRT isn’t right for you, plenty of nonhormonal options exist—just ask your doctor what’s the best fit for your needs.

Try an S-equol supplement

“While about 90 percent of the supplements sold to help with hot flashes don’t do anything beyond a short term placebo effect, one supplement, S-equol, has been shown to help,” Dr. Streicher says. “S-equol has a similar molecular structure to estrogen, and is a good option for someone who wants to try a nonhormonal, over the counter option.” She notes it won’t erase severe symptoms, but it can make them milder and more tolerable.

Load up on plant-based foods

“Consuming foods high in phytoestrogens, plant compounds with structures similar to estrogen, may help diminish hot flashes,” Dr. Goldman says. Think flaxseeds, soybeans, edamame and dried fruits like dates, prunes and apricots. One study in Menopause found post-menopausal women who ate a low-fat, vegan diet including ½ cup of cooked soybeans daily for 12 weeks had a 79 percent decrease in hot flashes. Dr. Teitelbaum also recommends a handful of roasted edamame in the evening to help prevent night sweats.

Consider acupuncture

A study in BMJ Open found women who received acupuncture once a week for six weeks had a significant drop in daytime and nighttime hot flashes, overall sweating and menopause-related sleep issues—with results appearing as early as week three.

Practice paced breathing

Turns out a simple breathing technique can help prevent hot flashes naturally. A study in the Egyptian Journal of Health Care found postmenopausal women who practiced paced, diaphragmatic breathing for 15 minutes twice daily over three weeks experienced more than a 50 percent decrease in hot flash frequency and nearly 67 percent decrease in severity. One theory: Slower breathing eases the anxiety and stress that can raise body temperature.

Aging

Is Soy Good for Hot Flashes? Doctors Yes—and It Boosts Weight Loss Too

A gynecologist explains how to use soy to dramatically reduce the #1 symptom of menopause

Upgrade your bedding

Trade dense, memory foam pillows—which can trap heat—for a more breathable option that supports better airflow, such as the Purple DreamLayer Pillow made with a GelFlex Grid and MicroAir Foam.

Have stubborn night sweats that just won’t quit? Consider investing in a dual-zone cooling mattress topper like the Perfectly Snug Smart Topper. It automatically adjusts to your body temperature so you stay cool and comfortable all night, plus it has a cold burst mode to deliver  instant cooling air if night sweats do flare up. Bonus: It can also warm your bed in the winter if you’re ever feeling chilly. 

Try mindfulness or hypnosis

Mindfulness-based stress reduction can reduce vasomotor symptoms of menopause (such as hot flashes and night sweats) by as much as 67 percent, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. And clinical hypnosis—one of the few nonhormonal treatments the Menopause Society recommends—resulted in a 56 percent reduction in hot flashes after 12 weeks in one Menopause study.

Set your bedroom up to help prevent night sweats

Simple environmental tweaks go a long way. Keep the thermostat low, run a bedside or ceiling fan, tuck a cold pack under your pillow to flip during the night and keep a glass of cool water on the nightstand. Small changes, big difference—and a much better shot at sleeping straight through until morning.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

You think you’ve just entered the life stage you’ve heard so much about: perimenopause. Perhaps you’ve been experiencing symptoms like mood changes or difficulty concentrating, and you’re left wondering: Could this be perimenopause? If you’ve struggled to get a clear answer from your doctor, you’re not alone. In an interview on Healthful with Norah O’Donnell, philanthropist and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates, 61, opened up about her own perimenopause journey, including the challenges she faced getting diagnosed and treated. We have all the details on her experience, plus a top gynecologist’s advice on recognizing and managing perimenopause symptoms.

French Gates says perimenopause started sooner than she expected 

French Gates shared that starting perimenopause took her by surprise. “My experience was I started in my early 40s in perimenopause, and I kind of couldn’t believe it because I had just finished having my last child in my late 30s,” French Gates told O’Donnell. “And I thought, are you kidding me?”

While it’s more common for perimenopause to begin in your 40s, for some women, it can start as early as their mid-30s. “Perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, typically lasts anywhere from four to 10 years, though for some women it may be shorter or longer,” explains Anna Cabeca, DO, FACOG, triple-board certified ob-gyn, regenerative and integrative medicine physician. “During this transition, ovarian hormone production becomes more erratic. Estrogen levels  fluctuate before eventually declining, progesterone production decreases as ovulation becomes less consistent.”

One way to stay on top of whether you may be entering perimenopause is to pay attention to your symptoms. Dr. Cabeca says some of the most commonly overlooked signs include:

• Sleep disruption and insomnia
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• Anxiety, irritability and mood changes
• Heart palpitations or a racing heartbeat 
• Joint pain and body aches
• Hair thinning and skin changes
• Low libido

Wellness

Perimenopause May Be Your Heart’s Most Critical Health Window—Here’s Why

It’s easy to think about the health problems associated with different stages of life as a problem for tomorrow. Take perimenopause, for example. It’s just a precursor to menopause. You don’t experience real health challenges until you’ve hit menopause, right? Not quite. New research shows perimenopause is not only an important life stage to keep […]

Why French Gates’ perimenopause diagnosis wasn’t easy

French Gates also shared on the podcast that it was her friends who helped her identify the signs of perimenopause. Getting a diagnosis and the right treatment from medical professionals, however, was a much more complicated process.

“Thank goodness, I have older friends and we would walk every Monday. And hearing their stories kind of eight or nine years ahead of mine, I knew what to watch for,” French Gates said. “But it was kind of unbelievable to me that even in this, you know, unbelievably privileged situation I’m in, where I feel like I can get some of the best health care, it took me three doctors to really diagnose what I was going through and to get the right treatments for where I was.”

“And it wasn’t because anybody was doing the wrong thing,” continued French Gates. “It’s because of what I now know, which is [that] only a third—one third—of ob-gyns in this country are trained in menopause.”

The glaring education gap in menopause care

“Despite the fact that every woman will go through menopause, menopause education has historically received far too little attention in medical training,” adds Dr. Cabeca. “In my more than 30 years as a triple board-certified ob-gyn, I’ve seen too many women told they’re ‘just stressed,’ ‘just getting older’ or [being]  prescribed medication without anyone considering that hormonal changes may be contributing  to their symptoms.” 

“I’d love to see menopause education become a standard part of medical school, residency programs and continuing education,” continues Dr. Cabeca. “Every healthcare professional who cares for women should understand the hormonal changes that occur during midlife, recognize the symptoms and know how to offer evidence-based treatment options. Women deserve nothing less.”

French Gates on how to advocate for your health

As French Gates’ story shows, advocating for yourself at the doctor’s office is often an important part of getting the perimenopause and menopause care you need. French Gates shared three tips that could help. 

Don’t stop looking for answers

“When you go to your doctor, don’t give up. If he or she can’t answer [your questions or concerns], go to somebody else. And if they can’t answer it, go to somebody else. Keep going. You own your own health, so I would say that as number one,” said French Gates.

Lean on your community

“Number two is go to your friends, talk to your friends about your health, have them talk to you about their health,” she added. 

Support women’s health research

“The third thing I would say is get involved civically,” said French Gates. “Again, moving money to women’s health research matters, but it means your congressperson or your state legislator—they need to hear from you.”

Aging

Tamsen Fadal on Breaking the Stigma Around Menopause (EXCLUSIVE)

Tamsen Fadal is no stranger to breaking barriers. After spending 30 years in front of the camera as a trusted news anchor, the award-winning journalist and woman’s health advocate is now using her platform to tackle one of the most under-discussed topics in women’s health—menopause. Her upcoming documentary, The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on […]

The bottom line on navigating perimenopause 

If you’ve already received a perimenopause diagnosis and are looking for support, know there are plenty of strategies that can help manage your symptoms, including prioritizing a diet rich in whole foods and protein, getting enough sleep, moving your body and managing stress, says Dr. Cabeca. And if you’re experiencing symptoms that seem like perimenopause but have yet to get the diagnosis or treatment you’re looking for (such as menopausal hormone therapy), consider trying one of French Gates’ tips to advocate for your health.

“You deserve to be heard, and you deserve a treatment plan that looks at the whole picture, not just one symptom,” adds Dr. Cabeca.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Men experiencing fatigue, low libido or mood changes with age often wonder whether andropause could be the cause. Doctors diagnose andropause through a combination of patient history, physical examination and blood tests that measure testosterone and related hormones.

How do doctors diagnose andropause?

Doctors diagnose andropause by taking a patient history, performing a physical examination and ordering blood work to measure testosterone. According to Anadolu Medical Center Hospital, the process begins with questions about symptoms, followed by a physical exam that evaluates the penis and testes. Laboratory tests then measure androgen hormone levels, primarily testosterone. If results show low testosterone, symptoms can be linked to that deficiency and to andropause.

Ali Dabaja, M.D., a urologist at Henry Ford Health, said screening is not routine. “We don’t usually test men for low testosterone levels unless they have symptoms or certain risk factors,” Dabaja said. “Men who have HIV, or who underwent chemotherapy or radiation for cancer treatment may be at risk of low testosterone, so screening in these populations makes sense.”

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Could Low Testosterone Be Why You’re So Tired After Menopause?

If you’re a woman over 50 and you’re so freaking tired of being tired all the time, I’m right there with you—and I think it might be time for us to band together and get doctors to talk to us about our ideal testosterone levels by age. Here’s why: In the last year, I’ve had […]

What blood tests are used in an andropause diagnosis?

The main blood tests include total testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin, according to Cleveland Clinic.

The total testosterone test is typically done before 10 a.m., when levels are highest. Providers may repeat the test on a separate morning to confirm results, and patients should report any illness because sickness can temporarily lower testosterone.

The LH blood test helps determine whether low testosterone stems from a problem in the testicles or in the pituitary gland, which controls hormone production. A prolactin test can flag pituitary conditions, including tumors, that may contribute to the deficiency. “If the patient’s testosterone level is consistently low, the next step is to pinpoint the cause,” Dabaja said. “Sometimes low testosterone happens because the testicles aren’t functioning to their fullest potential. Other times, the testes aren’t being stimulated with the proper hormones.”

How does menopause diagnosis differ from an andropause diagnosis?

Menopause diagnosis leans on symptoms and menstrual history, while andropause diagnosis depends heavily on blood tests. Mayo Clinic says most people can identify menopause through symptoms alone and tests are often unnecessary. When ordered, providers may check follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol and thyroid-stimulating hormone, because an overactive thyroid can mimic menopause symptoms.

Cleveland Clinic notes that menopause is typically confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period. Blood work is usually not required and can be misleading during perimenopause because of hormonal fluctuations. That contrasts with andropause, where lab results are central to confirming low testosterone.

Home FSH urine tests exist without a prescription, but Mayo Clinic warns they cannot reliably confirm menopause. “FSH levels rise and fall during your menstrual cycle. So home FSH tests can’t really tell you whether you’re in menopause,” the clinic says.

What happens after an andropause diagnosis?

After a confirmed diagnosis, doctors may recommend testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), lifestyle changes or a referral to a specialist. According to the NHS, patients with confirmed testosterone deficiency may be referred to an endocrinologist and offered replacement as an injection or gel. Henry Ford Health notes TRT is also available as oral pills, transdermal creams or patches, a nasal spray and implantable pellets that last three to six months.

Dabaja said lifestyle options should be tried first. “There are a lot of options patients can try before starting treatment,” he said. Those include a balanced diet rich in fiber and protein, strength training, weight management and mental health care.

Modern Thyroid Clinic cautions that “Andropause treatment requires careful clinical oversight because TRT has cardiovascular, fertility, and prostate considerations that need ongoing monitoring. Men experiencing symptoms should consult a clinician experienced in male hormonal health rather than self-treating with online testosterone products.”

Between 40 and 60% of women in perimenopause and menopause experience sleep difficulties, yet most never receive real treatment. The problem gets brushed off as a rite of passage, when it is actually a diagnosable condition with proven fixes. Understanding perimenopause insomnia matters right now because midlife women are finally demanding answers, and clinicians say the tools to help already exist.

“Insomnia is underdiagnosed and undertreated in women in midlife. Many of my female patients with insomnia don’t receive treatment because they think it’s a normal part of the menopausal transition. However, there is effective treatment available, so I urge women to seek care and not simply write it off as ‘part of aging’,” said Natalie Solomon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist with Stanford’s Sleep Health and Insomnia Program.

Forget One Supplement. Women Are Building Entire Perimenopause Stacks Instead. Here’s How to Build Your Own

Why perimenopause causes insomnia

Hormonal shifts drive the problem. Estrogen and progesterone both promote restful sleep, and their decline directly affects sleep while also triggering night sweats that yank women out of rest. Melatonin production, which cues sleepiness, drops with age and takes a sharp hit during perimenopause. Cortisol, the stress hormone, often runs higher during this window, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.

The result is a physiology working against rest at the very moment life piles on career pressure, aging parents and growing children.

Why the menopause conversation is finally opening up

Google search interest in menopause has climbed steadily from 2005 through 2025, according to a peer-reviewed analysis, signaling years of unmet information needs. The short film The M Factor, featuring Naomi Watts and Halle Berry, accelerated the conversation. Eighty percent of women who watched said they better understood menopause afterward, 75% were more likely to consult a doctor and 85% felt empowered to discuss it openly with friends and family.

What actually helps with perimenopause insomnia

Sleep hygiene is the foundation. That means a consistent bedtime and wake time, a cool bedroom around 65 to 68 degrees, breathable bedding and moisture-wicking sleepwear. Alcohol worsens night sweats and disrupts REM sleep, so limit it. Caffeine should be cut off in the early afternoon, and screens should go dark 60 to 90 minutes before bed.

Calming the nervous system comes next. Hormonal shifts amplify anxiety and middle-of-the-night rumination, even in women with no history of mental health issues.

“We are designed so that if a lion, tiger, or bear is approaching, our ability to respond to the threat is stronger than our ability to fall back asleep. I don’t want to get rid of this hyperarousal system since it’s essential for our survival, but I do offer my patients behavioral tools, such as CBT-I, to help them fall back asleep,” Solomon said.

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, known as CBT-I, is considered the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia. Guided meditation, evening journaling and gentle yoga can also help quiet a racing mind.

Targeted supplements may play a supporting role with medical guidance. Low-dose melatonin at 0.5 to 3 mg can help with sleep onset. Magnesium glycinate supports muscle relaxation. Black cohosh has mixed evidence but may help some women manage hot flashes. None of these are risk-free, and interactions with prescription medications are possible, so a doctor should sign off first.

Forget One Supplement. Women Are Building Entire Perimenopause Stacks Instead. Here’s How to Build Your Own

When to rule out other sleep disorders

Not every case of midlife insomnia is hormonal. Sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, thyroid disorders and depression all become more common during this stage. Loud snoring, gasping during sleep, severe daytime fatigue or persistent low mood warrant a doctor visit and possibly a sleep study.

“Having both sleep apnea and insomnia is common [for perimenopausal and menopausal women], and it’s important to remember that they are two different disorders which have two different treatments. If you are struggling with frequent difficulty falling or staying asleep, you may be experiencing insomnia and would be a good candidate for CBT-I. But, if your sleep difficulty is more about multiple brief awakenings, snoring, or non-refreshing sleep, you may want to speak to your doctor about getting a sleep study to test for sleep apnea,” Solomon said.

If you’re approaching menopause or already in the thick of it, you’ve probably heard plenty about declining estrogen levels. But there’s another hormone that deserves just as much of your attention, and it might be the missing piece in how you’re feeling. Understanding what progesterone is and how it fits into hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help you make smarter choices about your health.

What is progesterone, exactly?

Progesterone is a hormone your body naturally produces during your reproductive years. In a typical menstrual cycle, it rises after ovulation and prepares the uterine lining for either pregnancy or your monthly period. As you move through perimenopause and into menopause, progesterone levels drop. That shift can affect everything from your sleep to your mood to your overall sense of wellbeing.

“Estrogen gets most of the attention, but progesterone is essential, too,” says Felice Gersh, MD, a board-certified integrative gynecologist and founder of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine.

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The role of progesterone in menopause

Here’s the thing about HRT, also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT): If you still have your uterus and you’re taking systemic estrogen, you need progesterone (or a related progestin) right alongside it. “In menopause care its main job is to protect the uterine lining,” Dr. Gersh explains. Estrogen and progesterone work as a team. 

Without that protection, estrogen alone can cause the uterine lining to overgrow, which may lead to abnormal bleeding and, over time, increase the risk of uterine cancer, she says. 

Two common ways progesterone is prescribed

There isn’t just one way to take progesterone, and finding the option that works best for you may take a little trial and error.

Nightly oral progesterone

“This is a common approach and can be a simple, safe choice, especially for women who prefer a bleed-free routine,” Dr. Gersh says. “Because oral progesterone is processed through the liver into calming, sedating compounds, some women find it actually helps them sleep better. Others, though, wake up feeling groggy, foggy, moody or just ‘not themselves’ the next day.”

Cyclic progesterone

This option involves taking progesterone for 14 days each month, followed by 14 progesterone-free days, while continuing estrogen daily, Dr. Gersh explains. “This schedule more closely resembles the body’s natural monthly rhythm,” she adds. “In my practice, many women feel clearer and more energized when progesterone is cycled rather than taken continuously.”

Benefits—and drawbacks—worth knowing

The good news is that the benefits of progesterone are real: uterine protection, better sleep for some women and a more balanced hormone therapy regimen overall. Many women feel like themselves again once they find the right approach.

But the drawbacks are worth knowing, too. Grogginess, brain fog, mood changes and next-day fatigue can affect your quality of life, and those side effects aren’t something you should just push through.

“Progesterone is an essential part of menopausal hormone therapy for most women, but it should not be treated as one-size-fits-all,” Dr. Gersh says.

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Tired of Hot Flashes and a Low Sex Drive? Hormone Pellet Therapy May Help

Drenching hot flashes, mood swings, energy-zapping insomnia—as hormone levels plummet during menopause, the symptoms can leave you feeling pretty miserable. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can provide some relief by restoring estrogen and progesterone levels. HRT is typically delivered through a pill, patch or gel. But recently, there’s been renewed interest in a new type: hormone […]

The bottom line on progesterone 

“If you have a uterus and take estrogen, don’t stop progesterone on your own,” Dr. Gersh cautions. But if your current routine leaves you feeling anxious, sleepy or foggy-brained, talk to a menopause-trained clinician. Adjusting your hormone balance could make all the difference in how you feel every day.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Halle Berry, 59, is all about breaking barriers, whether that’s in her career as an actress or when it comes to women’s healthcare. She also knows that women deserve to age as comfortably as men do, which is why the actress has partnered with Joylux, the women’s health platform and intimate wellness company. Together, Berry and Joylux are working to create non-invasive, hormone-free solutions for feminine care, menopause and sexual wellness. 

Berry has been a proud partner of Joylux since 2024 in an effort to destigmatize the conversation around perimenopause and menopause. She has since become a leading voice for menopause awareness and women’s health advocacy, bringing visibility to conversations that have historically been overlooked. Now, the actress and advocate is supporting the launch of Joylux’s Juicy Like a Peach gel, which is an FDA-cleared vaginal dryness treatment that introduces proprietary HPMC-5 technology to women’s intimate health products in the U.S. for the first time. 

Woman’s World got to chat with Berry about the new product, her partnership with Joylux and why she believes it’s time to start prioritizing women’s healthcare. Plus, the actress shared which of her famed roles she would love to bring back if she had the opportunity. 

Aging

Halle Berry Gets Real About Menopause and Sex After 50

Actress Halle Berry made history as the first, and still only, Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in 2022. Today, she’s breaking down more barriers—this time surrounding women’s health in midlife. Recently, Halle Berry opened up about her journey with menopause and how vaginal dryness affected her ability to be intimate. Read […]

Woman’s World: You’ve partnered with Joylux to help launch their new product, Juicy Like a Peach. Can you tell me about it and why it’s an important innovation for women’s intimate health?

Halle Berry: I really believe this is a game changer for women and our health and our vaginal health. I think this is something that women traditionally haven’t wanted to talk about, but all women will suffer in some way down their path of life with this issue of vaginal dryness. It’s a big part, for many women, of perimenopause and menopause, and this new product is revolutionary in the sense that this new technology has been discovered, the HPMC-5. It’s this molecule that helps create this moisture veil inside of the vagina, which over time makes your vagina juicy like a peach—that’s why it’s called that. It restores the moisture in your vagina so that you can take your intimacy back into your own hands and have the spontaneity you used to have. 

To me, it’s a game changer because that’s one of the first things that, as a woman, when you can no longer feel that you’re a sexual being anymore, you start to lose confidence. Then you can get depressed, and then your relationships can fall apart and then there you are. My entry into perimenopause was vaginal dryness, and so partnering with Joylux just makes so much sense for me. This company has the vFit, which I first used, and then our first product, LET’S SPIN, our lubricant, and now this is our third product that’s just changed my life. I know that women are suffering and struggling, and I think Juicy Like a Peach will be exactly what they need. They should look at it just like their daily moisturizer we do on our face—this is the moisturizer for your vagina, and we have to start caring for that part of our body, just like we do every other part.

Woman’s World: As much as everyone wants to see innovation in women’s health, it can be scary or uncomfortable to try new things. How will Juicy Like a Peach fit into women’s midlife health routines, and why should they try it?

Halle Berry: What’s really good about Juicy is that, first of all, it’s FDA-approved. I think many women feel better when it’s been cleared and approved by the FDA. It is not hormonal, which is another plus for women who are feeling uncomfortable about hormones or who cannot take hormones. I think it’s very easy to use and it’s at a good price point [the full retail price is $59], so there’s no real reason that any woman should feel afraid to try this product. There’s absolutely zero downside, only something to gain, and I think every woman wants to feel juicy like a peach. That’s our sexual power, to be able and ready to have intimacy whenever we want. It’s going to give you that sense of having yourself back and your freedom back, which will also give your confidence back.

Woman’s World: There’s such a stigma around not just menopause, but every aspect of women’s health. Why do you feel like women should feel free to speak openly about their experiences, both with friends and medical professionals?

Halle Berry: I think as women we are waking up to ourselves and we’re realizing that we deserve better. We’re realizing that we’ve been operating on less than we deserved. As women, we’re often mothers or the caregivers and we’re sort of the last to be cared for. We think of ourselves last, and I think we’re starting to learn the “airplane theory”—when the mask comes down, take care of yourself first, then those around you—there’s a reason for that. We have to be our best selves so we can take care of our families, and I think we’re starting to realize and the younger generation is starting to realize that we matter as women. It’s okay to take care of ourselves, and I think by people talking about it, it’s helping other women talk about it. 

Women have said to me in the last two or three years that I’ve been on this mission, ‘Thank you for talking about it, because it helps me talk about it. You’re talking about it with your partner, now I can talk about it with my husband. Thank you for setting that example.’ I think we’re realizing that nothing will change for us unless we start talking about it, unless we get loud, unless we demand that our doctors get retooled, that there’s more research and education in the space, so I’m excited.

Woman’s World: It’s so wonderful that you’ve taken such an interest in talking about it and sharing your experiences, because now other women know they’re not alone. And that’s part of what can be so scary, is that it feels like you’re alone in what you’re going through.

Halle Berry: I want younger women to know, too, that this time of life is nothing to be afraid of. You don’t have to dread aging because we’re turning into a culture that wants to stay forever 35 and it’s just not possible. Men get to age and become silver foxes and they get sexier and debonair, but women somehow have to stay 35 because that’s where men want us to be. Well, I say no. We have a right to age like they do. We have a right to age gracefully. We have a right to have all the tools and products that are going to make that comfortable for us. We have the same rights that they do. That’s what I know.

Woman’s World: 100%. It’s great for the younger generation to hear voices like yours to say that it’s not scary, and you don’t need to be afraid and to hear someone of your stature speak about this openly.

Halle Berry: You just need to be educated. You need to have knowledge, become curious, just like with any other phase of life. When you’re looking at becoming a mother, we research that within an inch of our life to understand what pregnancy is, what childbirth is and then the same thing with raising our children. Start thinking about midlife when you’re in your 30s and what’s going to happen when you’re in your 40s and 50s. Start thinking about what that phase will be and set yourself up for success.

Woman’s World: What pushed you to want to become a leading voice for menopause awareness and women’s health advocacy, and what has it been like to bring visibility to those conversations?

Halle Berry: When I found out that I was in perimenopause, I was 54 years old and nobody had talked to me about it. None of my doctors even brought it up and I thought what a tragic disservice that was to me because I had been in perimenopause probably 10 years. Had I known better, I would have done better. I would have started taking different supplements a lot sooner if I knew what was waiting for me on the other side. I wish I did. So, I thought, ‘How can I use my voice to help empower other women so that they can start making better choices for themselves?’ Because I didn’t get a chance to do that. I wanted other women to and I want my daughter to. I want a new world for her. I want her to understand her body and understand the choices that she has. 

We should be able to sail into those years. Women don’t have to bottom out like I did and find themselves in the dredges of hell like I did, with [the feeling of] razor blades in my vagina and my mouth so dry I can’t even open it in the morning, or about to lose my eyesight because my eyes are drying up. Not every woman has to arrive at that place. Knowledge is power, and you can start attacking these issues that you know are coming well before they become sort of tragic. You can be on top of it, and that’s what I wish for women.

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Woman’s World: What made you decide to partner with Joylux? 

Halle Berry: They lead with science and the products are FDA-approved. That’s really important for us to feel safe. So much is being put in the market today and we don’t know what we’re putting in our bodies because some of these products don’t have to have trials. I don’t want to be a guinea pig, that’s just not what I want to do. I like that they lead with science, they lead with clinical trials and they had the first product that helped me when I realized that I was in perimenopause. I was on a new path that gave me confidence in the company, that they were who they said they were and that their products actually worked. Since I started using the vFit, we teamed up and we created two new products that really were to help me, but I knew that by helping myself, we’d be helping millions of other women.

Woman’s World: Switching it up to your career for a moment: You’ve been in some incredible films and played iconic characters, but if you could go back and reprise any of your past roles, which character would you want to bring back?

Halle Berry: Here’s the thing, this isn’t going to be a popular answer. People are gonna be like, ‘Are you crazy?’ But I would go back and do another version of Catwoman. I would do Catwoman 2.0 And I’ll tell you why. When the movie came out, it got unfairly panned. Was it the best movie you ever saw? No. Did Catwoman need a bigger foe to fight? Should the problem have been more significant than women’s faces cracking? Yes. So, it wasn’t perfect, but the younger generations have found this movie, and they love it. They get what we were trying to do. At the time, a woman had not had her own superhero movie, so it was trying to be a leader, trying to innovate and make a way out of no way. I wish I could go back and have a better story, a better writer, a different director and tell another version of that story, because for better or for worse, the young generation loves that movie. I would love to go back—I never will, but if I could—I would love to go back and do that.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

By now, most of us can recite the classic signs of menopause in our sleep—assuming we can sleep at all. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, brain fog, insomnia. All familiar territory. But this hormonal transition has a whole roster of quieter, weirder symptoms that almost nobody warns you about, and they can leave even the most prepared woman googling her own body at 3 a.m. If you’ve been blindsided by a strange new ache, itch or change “down there,” you’re not imagining things. Here are some of the surprising symptoms of menopause women say they never saw coming—plus what doctors recommend doing about each one.

7 unexpected symptoms of menopause

Between fluctuating hormone levels like estrogen and progesterone, it’s no wonder women experience so many surprising menopause systems. Here are some of ones no ever told you about:

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Secrets Endocrinologists Wish Women Knew for Menopause, Thyroid and Weight Loss

Endocrinologists are hormone specialists that have valuable know-how about menopause, thyroid health, weight loss and more. Not only do they diagnose and treat conditions such as hormone imbalances, thyroid disease and more, they’re brimming with specialized insight you might not get from your primary care doctor. And while they’d love to share their helpful tips […]

Itchy ears that drive you up the wall

Yes, really. Ob-gyn Mary Claire Haver, MD, says itchy ears blow up the internet every time she talks about them, and the cause comes down to skin and nerves. As estrogen levels drop, the delicate skin inside the ear canal gets drier, thinner and less lubricated, while nerve endings become more reactive. The result: a maddening, deep itch you can’t reach. 

The fix: Dr. Haver’s go-to hack? Spray a tiny bit of Flonase on a Q-tip and gently apply it inside the canal to calm inflammation. A dab of Vaseline, Aquaphor or even coconut oil can soothe the irritation too.

A disappearing labia minora

This menopause symptom stops women in their tracks, often after stepping out of the shower. “Yes, the labia minora absolutely can shrink during menopause,” says ob-gyn Troy Hailparn, MD. “The labia thins, loses definition and in some women appears to recede into the labia majora.” It’s part of a larger condition called genitourinary syndrome of menopause [GSM], which affects roughly 50 percent of postmenopausal women and can bring vaginal dryness, painful sex and recurrent UTIs. 

The fix: The gold-standard treatment is local vaginal estrogen, available as a cream, tablet or ring. “I always tell my perimenopausal patients not to wait until intercourse hurts to start the conversation [with their doctor],” Dr. Hailparn says.

Chin hairs with a will to live

If your tweezers have become a daily companion, you’re in good company. “It’s about the balance between estrogen and androgens,” explains board-certified gynecologist Maral Malekzadeh, DO. As estrogen declines, the effects of testosterone become more noticeable, often showing up as coarse hairs on the upper lip, chin and jawline. 

The fix: A few natural supplements have study-backed benefits for this bothersome menopause symptom, including spearmint tea, green tea extract, zinc, vitamin D and saw palmetto. If those fall short, talk to your doctor about prescription spironolactone, the topical cream Eflora or laser hair removal.

Phantom smells

You smell smoke. You check every outlet, but nothing’s amiss. It’s called phantosmia, and hormones may be the culprit. “Because estrogen affects the brain and the nerves involved in smell, the early hormone swings of perimenopause could make some women more sensitive to smell or more likely to notice phantom scents,” says Navya Mysore, MD, medical director of women’s health at Nurx. The odors vary from person to person and can be foul or pleasant, often showing up alongside sleep changes, migraines or stress.

The fix: Ask your doctor if menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) may be right for you. “Consider evidence-based treatments like hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications or supplements if appropriate—but always do this consultation with a licensed healthcare provider,” says Dr. Mysore. 

Dry mouth and dental problems

If your dentist is suddenly finding cavities or your gums look like they’re receding, hormones may be involved. “Estrogen helps maintain saliva production and gum tissue integrity,” says Somi Javaid, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and founder of HerMD. “As estrogen declines, women experience dry mouth, increased cavities and even gum recession. These changes are frequently missed by dental providers who may not connect them to hormonal shifts.”

The fix: It’s hormone treatments to the rescue again, which targets the root cause of this kind of dry mouth. In the meantime, consider some easy home remedies for dry mouth.

Frozen shoulder out of nowhere

Reaching for a coffee cup shouldn’t hurt this much. There’s now a recognized category called musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, which includes symptoms like frozen shoulder, joint pain, cartilage loss and osteoporosis. “Frozen shoulder is thought to be due to the lack of estrogen’s effect on connective tissue and inflammation,” says internal medicine physician Janette Gray, MD. Morning joint stiffness is another common sign, because estrogen normally helps protect cartilage and tamp down inflammation.

The fix: Frozen shoulder can last as long as three years (yikes!). To help speed recovery, consider physical therapy and pain-relieving home remedies like stretching, heat and ice therapy and NSAIDs.

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3 Ways To Make Sex After Menopause More Enjoyable (No Vaginal Dryness!)

It’s no secret that menopause can impact many parts of your life. Suddenly, everything from your mental health to your body temperature (hello, hot flashes!) feels like it’s in flux—even your joints may start to ache. While these symptoms tend to get all the attention, there’s far less discussion around sex after menopause, from what […]

A spike in cholesterol

You haven’t changed your diet, you’re still walking the dog, and yet your LDL numbers crept up at your last physical. “It has been noted that LDL cholesterol goes up in many women at menopause, independent of exercise, weight gain or change in diet,” Dr. Gray says. It’s a sneaky menopause symptom that can fly under the radar if you don’t connect it to your hormones.

The fix: Snack on cholesterol-lowering foods like pecans, fill up on fiber and get plenty of regular physical activity to help bring your numbers down. Check out more effective ways to lower your cholesterol naturally.

The bottom line on surprising symptoms of menopause

If you’re noticing strange new symptoms in your 40s or 50s, pay attention to the pattern, especially if they cluster around hot flashes or changes in your cycle. “Don’t accept ‘this is just aging’ as an answer,” Dr. Javaid says. “Push for information, push for treatment and remember: Just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s untreatable.” Your body is talking. It’s worth listening.