A new survey commissioned by natural bedding specialist Woolroom has revealed that 96% of the UK’s perimenopausal and menopausal women experience sleep disruption due to symptoms.
The research, conducted by YouGov, surveyed more than 2,000 UK women aged 47 and over who are experiencing symptoms of perimenopause/menopause, to improve understanding of the impact of menopause on sleep.
The survey also discovered that 91% of women whose sleep is disrupted by symptoms wake at least once a night, with 86% losing at least one hour of sleep a night due to symptoms. Almost a third (32%) stated that they lose two hours’ sleep a night, totalling more than a major 30 days, or a full month, over the space of a year in total.
Demonstrating just how far this impact stretches, when asked which areas of life were impacted by poor sleep, due to symptoms concentration and memory came out on top for respondents (71%) followed by mental health and low mood (58%) and weight gain (53%).
Commenting on the findings, Mariella Frostrup, broadcaster, journalist and chair of Menopause Mandate, says: “The huge array of symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause have a knock-on impact on almost every aspect of your life. Such a huge lack of sleep doesn’t just leave you tired the next day, but also puts additional strain on everything from holding an important meeting at work to being a good parent and partner.
“Colloquially, we might refer to poor concentration and memory as brain fog. This is a symptom of menopause that tends to be less talked about than the ubiquitous hot flush, but is no less impactful, and something I'm no stranger to myself. During my time as a menopause campaigner, I’ve heard of this from countless women – from forgetting someone's name to struggling to do their job, it can make us feel like we’re going crazy and leave us constantly looking for solutions.”
Night sweats are ubiquitous for a reason, with 30% of women surveyed citing them as the biggest menopause-related sleep disruptor, and two in three (65%) saying they experience the symptom at least once a week. When asked about how to combat night sweats or temperature changes at night, management techniques included opening a window (42%), using a fan (33%) and getting up to cool down (24%). By far the most used method, however, is to remove bedding or layers, used by three quarters of women who lose sleep to night sweats (75%).
Chris Tattersall, MD of retailer Woolroom, says: “Our survey has demonstrated just how severe the situation is for women, but we’re on a mission to help women sleep better through menopause with natural wool bedding, which can help to tackle the three sleep-related signs – hot flushes, night sweats and sleep disruption.
“It’s incredibly eye-opening that when asked what material their filled bedding is made from 53% of respondents selected synthetic fibres /or feather and/or down, and unsurprising that so many are left throwing off their duvet to cool down. Unlike natural fibres, synthetic options trap heat and moisture which leaves you waking up feeling clammy throughout the night – only exacerbating the problem women are already facing.
“Wool is a completely natural material with powerful temperature-regulating and moisture-managing abilities due to the air pockets within its fibres. Its breathability makes it the perfect fibre for anyone experiencing temperature changes during sleep – allowing a deeper, more restorative sleep that customers have described as lifechanging.”
Woolroom was recently awarded GenM’s menopause friendly certification – the MTick – having met strict evidence-based criteria and proved alignment with GenM’s goal of empowering women on their journey to search, source and shop for menopause solutions with greater confidence.
The survey results highlight just how much work remains to be done to improve that confidence and understanding of menopause and its impact on sleep. A significant 73% of respondents who are experiencing perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms said there is currently not enough understanding on the topic, underlining the need for greater awareness, education and support.
Mariella adds: “Menopause is incredibly misunderstood, often even by the people going through it. Knowing where to access the support you need is an ongoing issue and while there won’t be an overnight solution, the more people, brands and organisations speak up, the closer we will get to closing that gap.”
Pictured: Mariella and Chris
