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  Dr Sonia Davison (Endocrinologist)
  Health Professional

  Sonia is an endocrinologist at the Jean Hailes Medical Centre and her interests include gynaecological and general endocrinology. She is also a Senior Postdoctoral Research ... View profile

  There are many causes of poor sleep around the time of the menopause, and different strategies for different causes of poor sleep. Your health practitioner is the best one to assess and advise you, but a great article which comprehensively looks into this can be also found at: http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-professionals/medical-observer/695 Reply to this post  |  Report
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  Dr Michael Elstein (General Medical Practitioner)
  Health Professional

  I am an anti-ageing/wellness expert and author of 'Eternal Health,' and 'You have the power.' I have appeared on radio and television and currently have ... View profile

   There is scientific evidence that the herb valerian at a dose of  400-900 mg of the herbal extract taken up to 2 hours before bedtime improves sleep.  Although the clinical trials aren't always supportive there is some anecdotal support for trying the hormone melalonin. 
    I have found that measuring melatonin and cortisol levels via salivary assay  is most useful.  Cortisol is the herb that wakes us up in the morning but producing too much of it at night can disturb sleep patterns and interfere with the production of hormones like melatonin that regulates circadian rhythms, as well as growth hormone and other recuperative and regenerative processes that occur during sleep.  The saliva test when done at night can assess production of cortisol and melatonin.  There are natural ways to modulate excess cortisol stimulation and aside from taking melatonin, if nighttime levels are low, there are also natural means of boosting its production like supplementing with the amino acid tryptophan for example.
   Interestingly there is also some evidence that low-dose estrogen combined with low-dose micronized progesterone may benefit women who complain of disturbed sleep.
  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=treating%20insomnia%20with%20progesterone Reply to this post  |  Report
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