Nocturnal Hot Flashes, Sleep Disturbances, and Worsening Mood: The Perfect Storm?

Administration of a short-acting GnRH agonist reveals links among reported nighttime hot flashes, sleep fragmentation, and depressive symptoms.

Perimenopausal women face excess risk for depressive symptoms, and estrogen therapy can improve mood in this setting (AJOG 2000; 183:414). Although sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms are highly linked during the menopausal transition, it remains unclear if such sleep disturbances are caused by depression, or if they predispose women to mood concerns. In a study involving 29 healthy women (mean age, 27; predominantly white, never married college graduates), investigators assessed mood and sleep (including ambulatory polysomnography), hot flashes (HFs), and reproductive hormone levels before and 4 weeks after administration of one dose of the GnRH agonist (GnRHa) leuprolide, an agent that causes transient cessation of ovarian estradiol…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Nocturnal Hot Flashes, Sleep Disturbances, and Worsening Mood: The Perfect Storm?

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Reviewing Author