Oct 19 2010
Results released today from a survey of more than 900 women, who experienced sleep problems during menopause, shed light on the impact insomnia can have during this time in a woman's life. The survey also revealed that for many women, insomnia during menopause is not proactively addressed by their healthcare provider (HCP) and that often times, women don't communicate their symptoms to their HCP. The study, sponsored by Red Hot Mamas North America and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., showed that the sleep problems women experience during menopause affect multiple areas of their lives, including work, relationships, intimacy and even parenting. More information on the survey findings and resources for menopausal women experiencing insomnia can be found at www.TakeBackYourSleep.com.
"It is extremely common for women to experience insomnia during menopause," said Jo Anne Turner, Adult Nurse Practitioner. "Unfortunately, a gap in communication often persists among women and their primary healthcare providers, potentially causing the condition to go undiagnosed and untreated. The results of this survey confirm that we, as healthcare providers, should not assume patients are telling us everything about their sleep."
In fact, 62 percent of the women surveyed said they have not talked to their HCP about the symptoms of insomnia they've experienced during menopause. Of the women who did talk to their HCP (38 percent), 92 percent indicated that they had to initiate the conversations themselves.
In addition to revealing a lack of communication between women and their HCPs, the survey also showed that the effects of their sleeplessness impact many aspects of the women's lives. In fact, 76 percent of the women surveyed said that their insomnia during menopause moderately-to-significantly impacted their overall quality of life. Women noted that they experience daytime drowsiness or fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating on certain tasks, including their jobs. Notably, the women also indicated that their personal and romantic relationships suffered as a result of their insomnia during menopause, with nearly 34 percent noting that their intimacy with their husband or partner has been affected.
"One irritating symptom of menopause, that is commonly overlooked, is insomnia," said Karen Giblin, President of Red Hot Mamas North America. "Women have trouble falling asleep, wake up in the middle of the night, and the next day find themselves exhausted. The effects of being sleep deprived take their toll on multiple aspects of women's lives, including marriages, friendships and productivity at work. The survey findings are indicative that women should not travel the road alone and go passively down a lonesome highway. They need to speak to their healthcare provider about the insomnia symptoms they are experiencing."
The survey was conducted by Manhattan Research on behalf of Red Hot Mamas North America and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
SOURCE Manhattan Research
Primary care settings failing to address women's hot flashes