Perceived quality of sleep across the menopausal transition: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To compare sleep quality among naturally and surgically post‐menopausal women, and to identify lifestyle factors that predict sleep quality in pre, peri, and postmenopausal women. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of data collected from 429 women who participated in Fels Longitudinal Study data. Sleep quality, based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, demographics, medical history, depression, quality of life, and physical activity levels were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The four study groups did not differ on overall sleep quality with either scale (p = 0.61). Both Post‐M groups were more likely to have a major sleep problem than the Peri‐M and Pre‐M groups (p < 0.001), and to have a history of restless leg syndrome (p = 0.016), but the two Post‐M groups did not differ on these problems. Predictors of sleep quality included depression, bodily pain, vitality, and surgical menopause (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Menopause is associated with sleep disrupting conditions. This study did not find any significant differences in sleep quality among the three reproductive stages or for natural versus surgical menopause. Women may benefit from addressing other lifestyle factors associated with poor sleep quality including mental health factors.