The hormonal changes that accompany the menopause transition commonly lead to women experiencing a wide range of varied and uncomfortable symptoms. Some of the most common include: hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof remedy available for treating all the different menopause symptoms. There are, however, measures that can be taken to alleviate the experience. Many of them involve making simple lifestyle alterations such as carefully selecting pajamas.
The Relationship between Pajamas and Menopause
Menopause can affect and be affected by many seemingly insignificant aspects of your life, even the pajamas you chose. When hormones fluctuate and estrogen levels drop, as they are prone to do during menopause, women become more likely to experience hot flashes and night sweats. The phenomenon is often considered to be most troublesome when experienced during the night, as it can cause women to wake up drenched in sweat.
Related menopause symptoms that can be alleviated through pajama choice include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Sleep disorders
How Pajamas Help to Alleviate Menopause Symptoms
Many women experiencing night sweats find themselves waking throughout the night drenched in perspiration or unable to sleep at all. Fatigue can be just one consequence.
These negative night sweat experiences can be exacerbated by multiple factors; your pajamas being just one of them. In order to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible pajamas need to be 100% cotton so they can:
- Absorb moisture
- Be comfortable
- Keep you alternately warm and cool
- Maintain airflow
Fortunately, nowadays a niche market has developed focused on producing nightwear for menopausal women. Feeling comfortable enough to get a good night's sleep is essential to a women's overall well-being, especially during menopause, and pajamas designed to specifically eliminate perspiration can be vital.
Other Things to Do in the Bedroom to Aid Menopause
When trying to alleviate the symptoms of the menopause, it's important to ensure the bedroom environment is conducive to rest. Try to refrain from using the bed for anything other than sleep and sex. Other effective methods of reducing the negative effect of night sweats include:
- Ensure that your room is cool
- Keeping a fan by your bed
- Keep the window open to allow circulation
- Take cool showers before bed to reduce body temperature
- Keep a cool glass of water by the bed
- Sleep under layers of blankets that can easily be removed, instead of duvets
- Maintain a healthy sex life
More information about relieving menopause symptom.
Sources
- BMJ Group. "Menopause: What is it?" Patient Leaflet. 2007.
- Hopkins, Virginia. Lee, John R. M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. New York: Warner Books Inc., 1996.
- Love, Susan M.D. Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
- Martin, Raquel. The Estrogen Alternative. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2000.