The Impact of Menopause on Sleep Quality and the Effectiveness of Various Interventions to Improve Sleep

Abstract

Background: Hormonal changes during menopause often impair sleep, lowering quality of life for many women. Common problems include insomnia, nocturnal sweating, and sleep difficulties. This study compares Hormone Replacement Treatment (HRT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), relaxation techniques, and lifestyle changes to improve sleep quality following menopause.

Method: A prospective study was conducted from January 2024 to June 2024, with 100 patients from the Territory Care Centre involved. People were classified using HRT, CBT, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle changes. Actigraphy, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index assessed sleep quality at baseline, three months, and six months. The data was analysed with SPSS.

Results: Sleep improved dramatically regardless of active intervention. The mean PSQI scores decreased for HRT (10.5 ± 3.2 to 7.2 ± 2.9), CBT (10.0 ± 3.0 to 6.8 ± 2.6), relaxation techniques (9.8 ± 3.1 to 7.9 ± 2.7), and lifestyle changes (10.3 ± 3.3 to 8.2 ± 3.0, p < 0.01). The control group showed minimal change, with scores remaining between 10.4 ± 3.0 and 9.8 ± 3.1 (p = 0.2). Relaxation techniques outperformed lifestyle improvements, however CBT reduced PSQI ratings more than HRT.

Conclusion: While CBT performed better, both CBT and HRT significantly improved sleep quality for menopausal women. Lifestyle changes and relaxation techniques also have a slight influence. These findings emphasise the need to customise these approaches for each patient to build effective treatment plans.