Why Do Women Get Nighttime Sweats?

Night sweats are severe hot flashes that soak bed sheets and clothing while disrupting sleep. A decrease in estrogen, generally associated with menopause, often causes night sweats in women. "Estrogen is a hormone secreted primarily by the ovaries. As a woman gets older, the ovaries release less estrogen and this may cause symptoms such as night sweats," says Meredith Kemper of Sanford Women's Health in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Other causes exist for this uncomfortable night-time disturbance, and some can be quite serious.

Definition

The Mayo Clinic describes night sweats as episodes that soak nightclothes or bedding even when a bedroom isn't extremely hot. "Night sweats are a common problem many people experience from time to time. Although uncomfortable, night sweats typically aren't a sign of a medical problem," the Mayo Clinic website notes.

General Causes

A number of reasons exist for night sweats, Kemper says. These include perimenopause or menopause, infections, medications, low blood sugar/ hypoglycemia, hormone disorders, autoimmune diseases and clothing or bedding choices.

Common Culprit

One medical issue many women attribute night sweats to is menopause, which the Mayo Clinic describes as the permanent end of menstruation and fertility, defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period. The Cleveland Clinic notes that both hot flashes and sweating can make it difficult for menopausal women to sleep. Hot flashes "are unexpected feelings of heat all over the body accompanied by sweating," the National Sleep Foundation notes. It reports that 75 to 85 percent of women suffer from hot flashes during menopause, leading to less sleep efficiency.

Diseases

A number of diseases can cause night sweats, so women should not immediately brush them off as a symptom of menopause. HIV/AIDS, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, osteomyelitis and strokes are a few of the medical diseases and issues that the Mayo Clinic lists as causing excessive sweating during the nighttime.

Medications

The Mayo Clinic lists a number of medications that can cause night sweats. It reports that night sweats are a common side effect of antidepressants; antipyretics, medications that lower your body's temperature; hypoglycemic agents, medications that decrease the level of sugar or glucose) in your blood; and hormone therapy, medications that regulate the amount of hormones in your body.

Treatments

Consult a medical professional for treatment of night sweats. "A woman should discuss the cause of night sweats with her physician or medical provider. This will help tailor her treatment," Kemper says. "Simple and cost-effective things that can be done to help alleviate the symptoms, especially in menopausal women, include sleeping in light-cotton clothing; using only a sheet---instead of a comforter---to cover up with; using a fan; avoiding exercise right before bed; and avoiding alcohol and hot foods such as teas and coffee prior to bed."