Treat Insomnia Naturally with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement

“What wouldn’t I give for just one good night’s sleep?", is a common thing to hear from women with hormonal imbalance. Insomnia is a very common issue among women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and older. Insomnia can be a debilitating issue that can have profound effect on every aspect of our lives. Luckily, there is a solution.

The most likely underlying cause is the hormonal changes that transpire as a result menopausal transition. Unfortunately for many of us, insomnia also contributes to constant fatigue, which can be a big problem in itself. The main causes of insomnia in women over 30 form a complex of hormone-related issues. First, a very common effect of reduced levels of estrogen and progesterone is the inability to fall asleep. Furthermore, reduced levels of estrogen and a shifting ratio of estrogen to testosterone expose women to higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can also disrupt sleeping patterns. In addition, for those of us who get hot flashes (which are also caused by unbalanced estrogen and progesterone levels) know that they disrupt sleep and also make it difficult to fall back asleep. Finally, as estrogen declines, about 1 in 5 women experience depression (sometimes severe), which can often have a disruptive effect on sleeping patterns.

Remember how well you slept in your early twenties? Amazing, right?! The reason was that your hormones were at optimal level then but they are probably quite unbalanced now. Here is what we know about the relationship between optimal hormone levels and insomnia. As women’s estrogen lowers, it limits your body’s ability to produce melatonin. Melatonin is a neurotransmitter that is directly responsible for your circadian rhythm (aka your biological clock). With melatonin not working correctly, falling asleep and staying asleep becomes an ever-increasing challenge. But wait, there is more. Another hormone involved in sleep is testosterone. A decline in testosterone causes sleep apnea (difficulty breathing during sleep) and night sweats (if you have ever woken up drenched in sweat, you know what we mean). But it doesn’t stop there! As you sleep less, you develop fatigue, which can unbalance your hormones even further. It’s a vicious circle that can be broken by a systematic approach to hormonal health.

Hormones play a key role in sleep, so balancing your hormones and bringing them to optimal levels for your body can deliver immediate improvements in sleep quality. If you are experiencing insomnia, don’t delay any longer. Start by reaching out to a medical specialist who can carry out a complete hormonal evaluation.