Why some women keep waking up at 3 a.m., and what perimenopause has to do with it
kAmr92C:EJ y@?6D H2D 2 962GJ D=66A6C 96C H9@=6 =:76] %96?[ 23@FE EH@ J62CD 28@[ 6G6CJE9:?8 492?865] “x 4@F=5 ?@E 86E >J 3C2:? E@ EFC? @77 2E ?:89E[” D96 E@=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^QmxG:> w62=E9k^2m] “p?5 H96? x 5:5 72== 2D=66A[ :E H2D D@ =:89E E92E 2?J D9:7E :? E96 7=@@C[ 2 4C62< :? E96 5@@C[ 2?J D>2== ?@:D6 H@F=5 H2<6 >6 FA]”k^Am
kAmy@?6D[ 2? 244@F?E2?E :? 96C d_D[ DE2CE65 D=66A:?8 E9C@F89 96C 2=2C>] $96 H2D >2<:?8 D>2== >:DE2<6D 2E H@C<[ 3688:?8 96C A2CE?6C E@ 7665 E96 5@8 D@ D96 4@F=5 D=66A :?] “%92E’D ?@E >6[” D96 D2:5] “%92E’D H96? x <?6H :E H2D 2 AC@3=6>]”k^Am
kAm!6C:>6?@A2FD6 DJ>AE@>D 42? DE2CE :? J@FC >:5\E@\=2E6 b_D[ 62C=:6C E92? >@DE H@>6? 6IA64E] u@C D@>6 H@>6? :E’D =:89E[ 3C@<6? D=66A[ H2<:?8 2E 2?J D>2== ?@:D6] u@C @E96CD :E’D 2 H2<6\FA 2E EH@ @C E9C66 :? E96 >@C?:?8[ F?23=6 E@ 7:?5 D=66A 282:?]k^Am
kAmxE >2J 766= =:<6 J@F’G6 EC:65 6G6CJE9:?8i >6=2E@?:?[ ?@ 42776:?6 27E6C ?@@?[ >65:E2E:@?] p?5 6G6CJ E:>6 J@F 3C:?8 :E FA[ J@F’C6 E@=5 :E’D ?@C>2= 28:?8 @C DEC6DD] qFE :E <66AD 92AA6?:?8]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ sC] y6DD:42 sF?42?[ 49:67 >65:42= @77:46C 2E xG:> w62=E9[ :E G6CJ =:<6=J :D 9@C>@?2=]k^Am
kAm“%96 7:CDE E9:?8 x E6== E96D6 A2E:6?ED :D E92E E96J’C6 ?@E :>28:?:?8 :E[ 2?5 E96J’C6 ?@E 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 HC@?8[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “%96J’G6 FDF2==J 366? E@=5 7@C J62CD E92E :E’D DEC6DD[ @C ;FDE 28:?8] xE :D?’E] %96C6’D 2 A9JD:42= C62D@? E96J’C6 2H2<6 2E b2>[ 2?5 @?46 H6 ?2>6 :E[ H6 42? EC62E :E]”k^Am
kAmxE >62?D E96 AC@3=6> H2D ?6G6C D@>6E9:?8 J@F 4@F=5 >6=2E@?:? @C >65:E2E6 J@FC H2J @FE @7] *@F H6C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:I E96 HC@?8 E9:?8] p?5 :7 E92E =2?5D 2D 2 C6=:67[ :E D9@F=5]k^Am
kAm“(96? H@>6? E6== >6 6G6CJE9:?8 DE2CE65 72==:?8 2A2CE[ D=66A :D @7E6? H96C6 x DE2CE =@@<:?8[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “p?5 :E’D 2=>@DE ?6G6C @?6 E9:?8 8@:?8 HC@?8] xE’D E9C66[ 2== 2E @?46]”k^Am
k9bm%9C66 9@C>@?6D E92E 4@?EC@= J@FC D=66Ak^9bm
kAmp a_ad C6G:6H :? E96 y@FC?2= @7 r=:?:42= |65:4:?6 EC2465 A6C:>6?@A2FD2= D=66A 5:DCFAE:@? E@ 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|r``h_`__h^RD64c\;4>\`c\_`cfhQm@G6C=2Ak^2mi 564=:?:?8 6DEC@86? 2?5 AC@86DE6C@?6 2=@?8D:56 286\C6=2E65 D9:7ED :? DEC6DD 9@C>@?6D 2?5 4:C425:2? C9JE9>] %92EVD H9J :E’D D@ A6CD:DE6?E[ 2?5 H9J 86?6C:4 D=66A 25G:46 C2C6=J H@C<D]k^Am
kAm!C@86DE6C@?6 8@6D 7:CDE] xE DE2CED 564=:?:?8 62C=:6C :? A6C:>6?@A2FD6 E92? >@DE A6@A=6 C62=:K6[ D@>6E:>6D J62CD 367@C6 A6C:@5D 364@>6 :CC68F=2C] !C@86DE6C@?6 92D 2 42=>:?8[ D=66A\AC@>@E:?8 67764E @? E96 3C2:?[ 2?5 H96? :E 5C@AD[ E92E 67764E 8@6D H:E9 :E] (@>6? 56D4C:36 2 C6DE=6DD?6DD E92E H2D?’E E96C6 367@C6[ 2 5:77:4F=EJ D6EE=:?8 6G6? H96? E96J’C6 6I92FDE65]k^Am
kAmtDEC@86? 5C:G6D E96 ?:89E DH62ED 2?5 9@E 7=2D96D E92E ;@=E H@>6? 2H2<6[ D@>6E:>6D 7F==J[ D@>6E:>6D :?E@ 2 =:89E6C 5:DCFAE65 DE2E6 E96J 5@?’E 6G6? C6>6>36C 3J >@C?:?8] t:E96C H2J[ E96 D=66A 86ED 7C28>6?E65] *@F 42? E649?:42==J =@8 6:89E 9@FCD 2?5 DE:== >:DD E96 566A[ C6DE@C2E:G6 D=66A J@FC 3C2:? 24EF2==J ?665D]k^Am
kAmr@CE:D@= :D =6DD E2=<65 23@FE] xE CF?D @? 2 52:=J C9JE9>[ =@H6DE :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E 2?5 9:896DE :? E96 >@C?:?8] x? A6C:>6?@A2FD6 E92E C9JE9> D9:7ED 2?5 4@CE:D@= 4=:>3D E@@ 62C=J[ H9:49 :D H9J E96 b2> H2<6\FA :D D@ C6=:23=6] %96C6’D 2 3:@=@8:42= C62D@? :E <66AD 92AA6?:?8 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6]k^Am
k9bm(9J 9@C>@?2= D=66A =@DD 86ED >:DD65k^9bm
kAm|@DE H@>6? 5@?’E C2:D6 E96 :DDF6 @7 =24<:?8 D=66A 2E 2 C@FE:?6 2AA@:?E>6?E] (96? E96J 5@[ E96 2?DH6C :D FDF2==J >6=2E@?:?[ D=66A 9J8:6?6 E:AD[ @C 25G:46 E@ >2?286 DEC6DD 36EE6C]k^Am
kAm“xE’D ?@E E96 72F=E @7 E96 AC@G:56C] xE’D E96 DJDE6>[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “*@F 92G6 `d >:?FE6D 7@C 2? 6?E:C6 2??F2= G:D:E[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 E@ 4@G6C 2 =@E] v6E E96 3=@@5 AC6DDFC6 F?56C 4@?EC@=[ E96 5:236E6D F?56C 4@?EC@=] w@C>@?6D @7E6? 8@ E@ E96 324< @7 E92E =:DE]”k^Am
kAm%92E H2D y@?6D’D 6IA6C:6?46] w6C 72>:=J 5@4E@C E2=<65 E@ 96C 23@FE ?:89EE:>6 C@FE:?6D[ AFEE:?8 96C A9@?6 2H2J 2E 2 46CE2:? 9@FC] #62D@?23=6 25G:46 E92E 5:5?’E E@F49 E96 AC@3=6>] (92E 7:?2==J >@G65 96C H2D 2 4@H@C<6C 2C@F?5 96C @H? 286[ H9@ 4@F=5?’E DE@A E2=<:?8 23@FE H92E w#% 925 5@?6 7@C 96C] “$96 H2D AC2:D:?8 E96 8@@5?6DD @7 v@5 H:E9 w#%[” y@?6D D2:5] “p?5 E92E’D C62==J H92E 8@E >6] ~<2J[ J629[ E92E D@F?5D =:<6 >6]”k^Am
kAm%92E’D E96 82A 2 565:42E65 9@C>@?6 G:D:E :D 3F:=E E@ 4=@D6] }@E 2 C6A=246>6?E 7@C 2 AC:>2CJ 42C6 5@4E@C @C ~q\v*}[ 3FE E96 42C6 E92E 92AA6?D :? 36EH66?[ H96C6 9@C>@?6D 2C6 E96 H9@=6 4@?G6CD2E:@? 2?5 ?@E9:?8 86ED 3F>A65]k^Am
kAmp 9@C>@?2= H@C<FA 36=@?8D :? 2?J 6G2=F2E:@? @7 2 >:5=:76 H@>2? H:E9 D:8?:7:42?E D=66A 5:DCFAE:@?i 6DEC@86? 2?5 AC@86DE6C@?6 2=@?8D:56 E9JC@:5 7F?4E:@?[ 4@CE:D@= 2?5 72DE:?8 :?DF=:?] %9JC@:5 AC@3=6>D[ H9:49 364@>6 >@C6 4@>>@? :? >:5=:76[ 42? 5:DCFAE D=66A E@@ 2?5 2C6 H@CE9 CF=:?8 @FE]k^Am
kAm“}@C>2= =23 C6DF=ED D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E96 6?5 @7 E96 4@?G6CD2E:@? H96? 2 A2E:6?E :D DJ>AE@>2E:4[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “(6 ?665 E@ =@@< 2E E96 7F== A:4EFC6] }@E ;FDE H96E96C ?F>36CD 72== H:E9:? 2 C676C6?46 C2?86[ 3FE H96E96C E96J’C6 @AE:>2= 7@C E9:D A2CE:4F=2C A6CD@?]”k^Am
k9bm(92E 325 D=66A 5@6D E@ E96 C6DE @7 J@FC 3@5Jk^9bm
kAm$=66A 5:DCFAE:@? 766=D =:<6 2 BF2=:EJ\@7\=:76 AC@3=6>] xE’D 2=D@ 2 >6E23@=:4 @?6] !@@C D=66A C2:D6D :?DF=:? C6D:DE2?46[ D9:7ED 72E DE@C286 E@H2C5 E96 235@>6?[ 2?5 D4C2>3=6D E96 9@C>@?2= D:8?2=D E92E C68F=2E6 2AA6E:E6] xE H@CD6?D >@@5 2?5 4@8?:E:@?[ 7665:?8 E96 3C2:? 7@8[ :CC:E23:=:EJ 2?5 6>@E:@?2= C2H?6DD E92E E6?5 E@ 2CC:G6 C:89E 2=@?8D:56 E96 325 ?:89ED]k^Am
kAm“s66A D=66A :D H96? E96 3C2:? 4@?D@=:52E6D >6>@CJ 2?5 5@6D :ED @G6C?:89E C6A2:C[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “(96? E92E D=66A 86ED 7C28>6?E65 ?:89E 27E6C ?:89E[ J@F 766= :E 6G6CJH96C6] *@FC 7@4FD[ J@FC >@@5[ J@FC H6:89E] xE’D ?@E :? J@FC 9625]”k^Am
kAm%9:D :D E96 A2CE H@>6? >@DE @7E6? >:DD[ E92E E96 H6:89E[ E96 >@@5[ E96 =@DE 7@4FD 2C6?’E D6A2C2E6 AC@3=6>D] y@?6D 5:5?’E D66 :E F?E:= 96C AC@G:56C ?2>65 :E 7@C 96C] “x EC62E65 E96> 2== 2D 5:776C6?E DJ>AE@>D[” D96 D2:5] “qFE C62==J[ E96 7@88:?6DD[ E96 D=66A:?6DD[ E96 :CC:E23:=:EJ[ 2== H6C6 :>A24E65 3J >J D=66A]”k^Am
k9bmw@H E@ EC62E 9@C>@?2= D=66A 5:DCFAE:@?k^9bm
kAm%96 5:DCFAE:@? E6?5D E@ 36 H@CDE 5FC:?8 A6C:>6?@A2FD6 :ED6=7 2?5 @7E6? 62D6D @?46 9@C>@?6 =6G6=D D6EE=6 27E6C >6?@A2FD6] %92E’D ?@E 2 C62D@? E@ H2:E :E @FE] %96 J62CD :? 36EH66? 42? 36 =@?8[ 2?5 E96 >6E23@=:4 2?5 4@8?:E:G6 4@DED 255 FA] (9:49 :D H9J E:>:?8 >2EE6CDi $E2CE:?8 EC62E>6?E 62C=:6C E6?5D E@ H@C< 36EE6C E92? H2:E:?8 F?E:= DJ>AE@>D 2C6 D6G6C6]k^Am
kAmu@C >2?J H@>6?[ E92E >62?D 9@C>@?6 E96C2AJ] $FAA@CE:?8 AC@86DE6C@?6 42? :>AC@G6 D=66A BF2=:EJ[ 2?5 62D:?8 6DEC@86?\5C:G6? ?:89E DH62ED C6>@G6D 2 >2;@C D@FC46 @7 ?:89EE:>6 H2<:?8]k^Am
kAmu@C y@?6D[ E96 492?86 42>6 72DE] “$=66A H2D AC@323=J ,36EE6C. 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 7:CDE H66<[” D96 D2:5] u@4FD E@@< E9C66 E@ 7@FC H66<D] %96 :CC:E23:=:EJ 62D65 3J 23@FE D:I] “x’> H2<:?8 FA ?@H 367@C6 >J 2=2C> 8@6D @77 2?5 x 5@?’E 766= E:C65] u@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? >J =:76] x 5@?’E H2?E E@ E2<6 2 ?2A]”k^Am
kAmu@C H@>6? H9@ 42?’E @C 5@?’E H2?E 9@C>@?6 E96C2AJ[ E96C6 2C6 ?@?\9@C>@?2= @AE:@?D H:E9 C62= 6G:56?46i 4@8?:E:G6 3692G:@C2= E96C2AJ 7@C :?D@>?:2[ 46CE2:? AC6D4C:AE:@? @AE:@?D 7@C G2D@>@E@C DJ>AE@>D[ E2C86E65 =:76DEJ=6 492?86D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 @AE:@?D[” D2JD sC] sF?42?] “pD< J@FC 5@4E@C H92E E96 2=E6C?2E:G6D 2C6[ H92E E96 5@H?D:56D 2C6[ E96 FAD:56D E@@] (6 H2?E E@ 7:?5 E96 C:89E >2E49]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 2=D@ E9:?8D H@CE9 ECJ:?8 E@?:89E] ~?6 sC] sF?42? C6EFC?D E@ @7E6?i $E@A 62E:?8 2E =62DE EH@ 9@FCD 367@C6 365[ :562==J E9C66] “*@FC 3@5J 42?’E 7@4FD @? 566A[ C6DE@C2E:G6 D=66A H96? :E’D DE:== H@C<:?8 E@ 5:86DE 5:??6C[” D96 D2JD] xE H@?’E 7:I 2 9@C>@?2= AC@3=6> @? :ED @H?[ 3FE :E C6>@G6D @?6 >@C6 E9:?8 H@C<:?8 282:?DE J@F]k^Am
kAm!6C:>6?@A2FD2= D=66A 5:DCFAE:@? :D EC62E23=6] pD y@?6D AFE :Ei “x 9@?6DE=J 766= =:<6 2? 6?E:C6=J 5:776C6?E A6CD@?] |@C6 4@?7:56?E[ >@C6 E@=6C2?E[ 92AA:6C[ >@C6 6?6C86E:4] p?5 x 9@?6DE=J 36=:6G6 E92E gdT @7 E92E :D 7C@> D=66A]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^H9J\J@F\<66A\H2<:?8\FA\2E\b2>\2?5\H92E\A6C:>6?@A2FD6\92D\E@\5@\H:E9\:E^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:G:>962=E9]4@>^Qmk6>mxGí> w62=E9k^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3J $k^6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>mE24<6C]k^6>mk^2mk^Am
