Night sweats in women are most commonly caused by hormonal changes related to perimenopause, menopause, pregnancy, or postpartum. These hormonal fluctuations affect the body's temperature regulation system, particularly involving estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to excessive sweating during sleep. Other causes include anxiety, stress, medication side effects, infections, and certain underlying health conditions like sleep apnea or thyroid disorders.
Hormonal Causes
- Perimenopause and Menopause: Up to 80% of women experience night sweats due to changes in estrogen levels making the brain’s temperature regulation oversensitive, causing sudden overheating and sweating, even in cool environments. These symptoms often include hot flashes occurring day and night.
- Pregnancy and Postpartum: Dramatic hormonal shifts after childbirth can cause night sweats in about 29% of new mothers, partially helping to eliminate excess retained fluids.
- Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: In some women under 40, early ovarian failure can cause menopausal symptoms, including night sweats.
Other Causes
- Anxiety and Stress: Over 30% of women diagnosed with anxiety disorders experience night sweats, possibly because stress hormones affect sweat glands.
- Medications: Some medications, such as antidepressants, can induce night sweats.
- Infections and Medical Conditions: Conditions like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and sleep apnea can trigger night sweats.
- Environmental and Lifestyle Factors: While often confused with night sweats, hot bedrooms or heavy bedding typically cause normal sweating, not true night sweats.
If night sweats are severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like weight loss or fever, a medical evaluation is recommended to rule out serious conditions and find appropriate treatment. This overview helps explain that night sweats in women have multifactorial causes but are most often related to hormonal changes around midlife and unique female physiological states.
