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Night Sweats
Nighttime hot flashes, sleep sweats, drenching heat
“I wake up drenched. Sheets soaked. Heart racing. It’s like my body forgot I was sleeping.”
Night Sweats
Nighttime hot flashes, sleep sweats, drenching heat
“I wake up drenched. Sheets soaked. Heart racing. It’s like my body forgot I was sleeping.”
Night Sweats
Nighttime hot flashes, sleep sweats, drenching heat
“I wake up drenched. Sheets soaked. Heart racing. It’s like my body forgot I was sleeping.”
What it feels like
You wake up drenched, your sheets soaked. Sometimes your heart is racing, and you have to change clothes in the dark. It feels like your body’s turned against you—while you’re just trying to sleep.
Why it catches you off-guard
It’s often the first symptom women notice—even before their period changes.
What it feels like
You wake up drenched, your sheets soaked. Sometimes your heart is racing, and you have to change clothes in the dark. It feels like your body’s turned against you—while you’re just trying to sleep.
Why it catches you off-guard
It’s often the first symptom women notice—even before their period changes.
What it feels like
You wake up drenched, your sheets soaked. Sometimes your heart is racing, and you have to change clothes in the dark. It feels like your body’s turned against you—while you’re just trying to sleep.
Why it catches you off-guard
It’s often the first symptom women notice—even before their period changes.
You're not alone
Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes and night sweats during perimenopause and menopause.
Reminder:
Just because it’s “common” doesn’t mean you should suffer through it.
You're not alone
Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes and night sweats during perimenopause and menopause.
Reminder:
Just because it’s “common” doesn’t mean you should suffer through it.
You're not alone
Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes and night sweats during perimenopause and menopause.
Reminder:
Just because it’s “common” doesn’t mean you should suffer through it.
What's really happening
Your internal thermostat is glitching. Hormonal fluctuations confuse your brain’s ability to regulate temperature, leading to sudden heat surges and sweating—especially at night when your body’s trying to rest.
Your internal thermostat is glitching. Hormonal fluctuations confuse your brain’s ability to regulate temperature, leading to sudden heat surges and sweating—especially at night when your body’s trying to rest.
But why?
Estrogen helps regulate body temperature. As it drops, your brain misreads normal temperatures as “too hot.”
Estrogen helps regulate body temperature. As it drops, your brain misreads normal temperatures as “too hot.”
Scientific Breakdown
The hypothalamus controls body temperature. Estrogen helps keep it stable. When estrogen levels drop, the hypothalamus becomes more sensitive and misjudges body temperature. Even a small change can trigger vasodilation (blood vessels expanding), leading to a hot flash. At night, this becomes a “night sweat,” often paired with sleep disruption and a pounding heart.
• ↓ Estrogen = disrupted thermoregulation
• Hypothalamus misfires = sudden sweating
• Can be worsened by alcohol, stress, or poor sleep
The hypothalamus controls body temperature. Estrogen helps keep it stable. When estrogen levels drop, the hypothalamus becomes more sensitive and misjudges body temperature. Even a small change can trigger vasodilation (blood vessels expanding), leading to a hot flash. At night, this becomes a “night sweat,” often paired with sleep disruption and a pounding heart.
• ↓ Estrogen = disrupted thermoregulation
• Hypothalamus misfires = sudden sweating
• Can be worsened by alcohol, stress, or poor sleep
Essentially…
Your brain thinks you’re overheating—so it tells your body to cool down fast. Cue the sweat storm.
Your brain thinks you’re overheating—so it tells your body to cool down fast. Cue the sweat storm.
See a doctor if …
• Night sweats disrupt your sleep consistently
• You’re also losing weight, feeling anxious, or having other new symptoms
• Sweating is intense or paired with fever
• Night sweats disrupt your sleep consistently
• You’re also losing weight, feeling anxious, or having other new symptoms
• Sweating is intense or paired with fever
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about
Night Sweats
Night Sweats
Q: Will night sweats go away on their own?
They may fade—but it can take years. Treatment brings faster relief.
Q: Can I use HT just for night sweats?
Yes—and you can often use a very low dose.
Q: What if I can’t take hormones?
Non-hormonal medications and cooling tools can still help.
Q: Will night sweats go away on their own?
They may fade—but it can take years. Treatment brings faster relief.
Q: Can I use HT just for night sweats?
Yes—and you can often use a very low dose.
Q: What if I can’t take hormones?
Non-hormonal medications and cooling tools can still help.
“I used to wake up soaked 3–4 times a night. After starting estrogen therapy, I sleep through the night again—like I did before menopause.”
— FLUXX community member, age 51
FLUXX Recommendations
1. Consider estrogen-based HT (most effective for vasomotor symptoms)
2. Reduce alcohol, caffeine, and heavy bedding at night
3. Keep your bedroom cool and consistent
1. Consider estrogen-based HT (most effective for vasomotor symptoms)
2. Reduce alcohol, caffeine, and heavy bedding at night
3. Keep your bedroom cool and consistent
Non-Hormonal Medications
• SSRIs, SNRIs, gabapentin, or clonidine (for those who can’t take HT)
• SSRIs, SNRIs, gabapentin, or clonidine (for those who can’t take HT)
• Black cohosh, sage, or red clover (limited but promising evidence)
• Cooling sheets, pajamas, or bed fans
• Mindfulness or CBT for symptom coping
• Black cohosh, sage, or red clover (limited but promising evidence)
• Cooling sheets, pajamas, or bed fans
• Mindfulness or CBT for symptom coping
Lifestyle Suggestions
• No heavy meals or drinks before bed
• Consistent sleep and wake times
• Regular aerobic exercise during the day
• No heavy meals or drinks before bed
• Consistent sleep and wake times
• Regular aerobic exercise during the day
Myth-Busting
You don’t need to “tough it out.” You deserve sleep—and there are safe ways to get relief.
You don’t need to “tough it out.” You deserve sleep—and there are safe ways to get relief.
Modern Guidance
HT is the most effective treatment for night sweats. Non-hormonal meds like SSRIs or Fezolinetant may also help. Cooling sheets, layering pajamas, and sleep hygiene are supportive but often not enough on their own.
HT is the most effective treatment for night sweats. Non-hormonal meds like SSRIs or Fezolinetant may also help. Cooling sheets, layering pajamas, and sleep hygiene are supportive but often not enough on their own.
Ask yourself
• “Are you waking up sweaty or just hot?”
• “Are you open to hormone therapy—or looking for natural options first?”
• “Is poor sleep affecting your mood or memory?”
• “Are you waking up sweaty or just hot?”
• “Are you open to hormone therapy—or looking for natural options first?”
• “Is poor sleep affecting your mood or memory?”
Ask your doctor
• “Could estrogen therapy help with my night sweats?”
• “Do I need any tests to rule out other causes?”
• “What’s the lowest effective dose I can try?”
• “Could estrogen therapy help with my night sweats?”
• “Do I need any tests to rule out other causes?”
• “What’s the lowest effective dose I can try?”
Estrogen therapy is safe and highly effective for night sweats in most women under age 60 within 10 years of menopause.
Estrogen therapy is safe and highly effective for night sweats in most women under age 60 within 10 years of menopause.
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025
Feel like yourself again.
FLUXX © 2025