• Take The Quiz
    • Male Quiz
    • Female Quiz
  • Providers
  • Symptoms
    • Brain Fog
    • Fatigue
    • Hair Loss / Dry Skin
    • Low Sex Drive
    • Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
    • Mood Swings / Anxiety / Depression
    • Weight Loss
  • How It Works
  • Resources
    • Provider Map
    • Resources for Women
      • Conditions for Women
      • Treatments for Women
      • Therapies for Women
      • Hormones for Women
    • Resources for Men
      • Conditions for Men
      • Treatments for Men
      • Therapies for Men
      • Hormones for Men
    • Homone Testing
    • Blog
  • Shop
  • Call (888) 692-7116
BodyLogicMD
  • Take The Quiz
    • Male Quiz
    • Female Quiz
  • Providers
  • Symptoms
    • Brain Fog
    • Fatigue
    • Hair Loss / Dry Skin
    • Low Sex Drive
    • Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
    • Mood Swings / Anxiety / Depression
    • Weight Loss
  • How It Works
  • Resources
    • Provider Map
    • Resources for Women
      • Conditions for Women
      • Treatments for Women
      • Therapies for Women
      • Hormones for Women
    • Resources for Men
      • Conditions for Men
      • Treatments for Men
      • Therapies for Men
      • Hormones for Men
    • Homone Testing
    • Blog
  • Shop
  • Call (888) 692-7116
Why can't I sleep?

Why Can’t I Sleep? The Answer May Lie in Your Hormones

HormonesMenSleepWomen
by Charlotte January 11, 2021
by Charlotte

Sleep is one constant throughout our lives–a restorative time we count on each day to rest our body and quiet our mind. When sleep is disrupted, it can throw off our day. And when sleepless nights pile up, the cumulative losses can have widespread effects on your physical and emotional health.  

One of the variables that can affect our sleep is our hormones. These powerful chemical messengers can have a direct influence or may cause symptoms that interfere with our sleep. If you are one of the many asking, “Why can’t I sleep?” it can be helpful to understand the role hormones can play in our sleepless nights.

The Reciprocal Relationship of Hormones and Sleep

Sleep is affected by many body processes, and it, in turn, may have a reciprocal impact. Lack of sleep can affect mood, memory, and concentration, negatively impact the immune system, raise blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, and cause gain weight. When sleep is disrupted, there is often a hormonal cause—at least in part. 

Some of the most important hormones affecting our ability to fall and stay asleep include:

Cortisol

Cortisol and melatonin act in opposition to regulate our sleep cycle. Cortisol levels rise overnight to peak in the morning, then drop throughout the day until darkness triggers the release of melatonin to guide us to sleep. This cycle can be thrown off when chronic stress keeps cortisol levels high or when light and darkness are experienced in opposition to your body’s expected pattern (shift workers often experience this). Lifestyle changes and supports may help to compensate and correct for these irregularities.

Thyroid

Both too much and too little thyroid hormone can have significant implications for sleep. As described in one study: “Hypothyroidism results in poor sleep quality and architecture, whereas hyperthyroidism adversely impacts sleep by reducing sleep efficiency and duration, and increasing sleep latency.” Since the thyroid gland is responsible for many crucial metabolic and life-sustaining processes, diagnosing and correcting a thyroid imbalance can have a positive effect on many physiological functions, including sleep.

Estrogen and Progesterone

Estrogen and progesterone have the potential to impact sleep during several stages of life. From the time menstruation begins, the monthly fluctuation of hormones may disrupt sleep at various points in the cycle. During pregnancy, the hormonal changes that support the growing fetus can also significantly affect sleep.

The greatest risk of hormone-related sleep disruption, however, typically occurs during perimenopause and menopause, as hormone levels can fluctuate wildly and drop sharply. While this may cause primary sleep disturbances, symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can also disrupt sleep. Additionally, the risk of sleep apnea increases during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy may help rebalance hormone levels and eliminate symptoms that compromise sleep during perimenopause and menopause.

Testosterone

Some men with low testosterone report improvements in sleep quality when undergoing testosterone replacement therapy. Significantly, sleep deficits may also negatively impact testosterone levels.

A study conducted by Dr. Eve Van Cauter at the University of Chicago followed healthy young men whose sleep was limited to five hours in the sleep lab. A 10-15% drop was noted in their testosterone levels afterward, with the participants reporting a decline in their sense of wellbeing, mood, and vigor. Van Cauter noted, “As research progresses, low sleep duration and poor sleep quality are increasingly recognized as endocrine disruptors.” This research illuminates the reciprocal effect that sleep and hormones may have on the other.

Why Can’t I Sleep? Find the Answer

If sleepless nights are taking a toll on your wellbeing and productivity, it’s time to discover what is keeping you up at night. Determining whether hormones are playing a role in your sleeplessness has now been made easier, thanks to telehealth visits with hormone health specialists and in-home diagnostic testing. From the comfort of your home, you can receive expert guidance that helps you get to the bottom of your insomnia and puts you one step closer to a real solution.

Through a virtual visit with a knowledgeable practitioner, you can begin to uncover the factors that may be affecting your sleep. If a hormonal origin is confirmed through at-home hormone testing, hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed to address any imbalances. With home delivery of hormone treatments and follow-up monitoring to help you with your symptoms, you may be on the road to lasting relief.

If you are tired of asking yourself why can’t I sleep, it is time to get some answers. With telehealth, expert insight has never been closer.

If you are struggling with sleep disruptions, BodyLogicMD wants to help. The expert practitioners in the BodyLogicMD network can assess your needs and try to design a personalized BalancePro plan to help you achieve your health goals—from virtually anywhere. Set up your telehealth consultation, or take the BodyLogicMD Hormone Balance Quiz to learn more about how hormones may be affecting your everyday life.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All content on this website is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases.

Author

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte

    Charlotte is a patient care coordinator specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She is committed to helping patients who struggle with the symptoms of hormonal change and imbalance explore their treatment options and develop effective strategies to optimize wellness.

    View all posts

You may also like

Menopause and Heart Palpitations: Is There a Connection?

How to Manage Symptoms of Menopause Rage

How to Increase Oxytocin and Improve Hormonal Balance

Top 6 Estrogen-Boosting Foods for Menopausal Women

Why Do Women Need Testosterone?

What Is HRT for Men?

Get Started

BodyLogicMD affiliated physicians are the most highly trained in natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with integrated fitness and nutrition programs which they have been providing to their patients since 2003. Our patients are highly and consistently satisfied with the services they receive. You can rest assured that when you visit a BodyLogicMD affiliated physician, you’ll get the care you deserve.

Contact A Physician

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Can Menopause Cause High Blood Pressure?

  • 2

    Menopause and Heart Palpitations: Is There a Connection?

  • 3

    How to Manage Symptoms of Menopause Rage

  • 4

    How to Increase Oxytocin and Improve Hormonal Balance

  • 5

    Top 6 Estrogen-Boosting Foods for Menopausal Women

  • 6

    Why Do Women Need Testosterone?

  • 7

    What Is Semaglutide for Weight Loss?

  • 8

    What Is HRT for Men?

  • 9

    Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Depression?

  • 10

    What Can Cause Hormonal Imbalance?

  • 11

    What Are Stress Hormones and How Do They Impact You?

  • 12

    How to Heal Dry Skin: 4 Things You Haven’t Tried

  • 13

    Hormonal Therapy for Menopause: Should You Try It?

  • 14

    12 Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Women

  • 15

    5 Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms in Men

  • 16

    Do Hormones Help with Menopausal Weight Gain?

  • 17

    Hormonal Hair Loss in Women: What You Need to Know

  • 18

    What Are the Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?

  • 19

    How Do I Balance My Hormones?

  • 20

    Can a Hormone Imbalance Cause Anxiety?

  • 21

    How Does Hormone Therapy Work?

  • 22

    4 Lifestyle Changes You Need to Consider at 60

  • 23

    Common Causes of Fatigue and How to Treat It

  • 24

    Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: 7 Reasons You Should Try It

  • 25

    What Are Symptoms of Menopause? 10 Things to Know

  • 26

    HGH Supplements for Men to Help Increase Hormones Naturally

  • 27

    7 Ways to Improve Your Sexual Wellness

  • 28

    Bone and Joint Health: 5 Supplements to Consider

  • 29

    What Are the Best Supplements for Athletes?

  • 30

    Best Exercises to Increase Cardio Strength

  • 31

    RD Q&As: Coaches vs. Dietitians

  • 32

    Meal Planning for Portion Control

  • 33

    Why Exercising and Eating Healthy May Not Be Enough to Lose Weight

  • 34

    A Dietician’s Guide to Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight Fast

  • 35

    Hot Flashes— How Many Years Do They Last?

  • 36

    These Are the 10 Most Important Vitamins for Muscles

  • 37

    The Truth About Over-the-Counter Testosterone Treatment

  • 38

    Best Supplements to Improve Women’s Libido

  • 39

    These Are the Best Vitamins and Supplements for Acne

  • 40

    Pain During Sex After Hysterectomy: Why It Happens, and How to Treat It

Hormone Balance Quiz

Are you feeling run down? Gaining weight? having trouble sleeping? The list goes on! Find out if your symptoms are due to a hormonal imbalance!

Take the quiz now!

Recent Articles

  • Can Menopause Cause High Blood Pressure?
  • Menopause and Heart Palpitations: Is There a Connection?
  • How to Manage Symptoms of Menopause Rage
  • How to Increase Oxytocin and Improve Hormonal Balance
  • Top 6 Estrogen-Boosting Foods for Menopausal Women

Categories

  • BHRT
  • Women
  • Men
  • Nutrition

Contact A Physician

I Want to Learn More!

Footer Logo

All Rights Reserved. ©2003 - 2023 BodyLogicMD

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!