Abstract:

This study carried out for determination the relationship between women's sleep problems and menopausal status. This study was planned as a descriptive and survey research. This study was done by searching with key word “menopause and sleep disturbance” researches on Pub Med. The sample of study was composed of 135 abstracts of researches between 2007 and 2011. This research was carried out by examination of 25 research abstracts (relevant to the subject, research article, have abstract) from 135 researches. Many studies showed postmenopausal women have sleep problems. Sleep problems seen in the form of insomnia, prolonged sleep latency, deep sleep decreases, difficulty sleeping, awakenings, shorter sleep time, decreased sleep efficiency, more wake time after sleep onset, increased daytime sleepiness, increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. In addition, some researchers have reported sleep problems not related to menopause. This researches, shows total sleep deprivation, total sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, snoring and sleep fragmentation is independent of menopause. Postmenopausal women's hot flashes, cause insomnia, nighttime wakefulness and sleep disruptions. In one study, the period of transition to menopause is not associated insomnia with hot flashes. In some studies, have been proposed sleep disorders at women, is not associated with vasomotor symptoms, develop secondary to depression. Sleep problems are more common in women with postmenopausal period. The postmenopausal period, sleep problems associated with vasomotor symptoms or depressive mood.

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