From the Guidelines
Night sweats before your menstrual period are often caused by hormonal fluctuations, and managing them typically involves lifestyle modifications and potentially hormonal interventions. To manage these symptoms, try keeping your bedroom cool (around 65-68°F), wearing moisture-wicking pajamas, and using lightweight, breathable bedding 1. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine in the evening, as these can trigger sweating. Regular exercise during the day may help regulate hormones and improve sleep quality, as evidence suggests that exercise can reduce the risk or ameliorate hot flashes in some women and improve quality of life (QoL) 1. If night sweats are severe or disruptive, over-the-counter remedies like low-dose ibuprofen (200-400mg) can help reduce inflammation and regulate body temperature. For persistent symptoms, hormonal birth control methods might help stabilize hormone levels. Some key points to consider in managing night sweats include:
- Identifying potential triggers to hot flashes in a hot flash diary may help in modifying symptoms in the future 1
- Exercise may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve QoL 1
- Hot flashes may be more severe in overweight women and in smokers 1
- Hormonal fluctuations, particularly the drop in estrogen and rise in progesterone that occurs in the luteal phase of your cycle, are often the cause of night sweats before your menstrual period, which can be characterized by a pattern of mood symptoms, somatic symptoms, or cognitive symptoms that begin several days before the onset of menses, start to improve within a few days after the onset of menses, and then become minimal or absent within 1 week following the onset of menses, similar to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder 1. These night sweats are typically benign and related to normal hormonal changes, but if they're accompanied by other concerning symptoms like unexplained weight loss or fever, or if they begin suddenly and severely, consult a healthcare provider to rule out other medical conditions.
From the Research
Night Sweats Prior to Menstrual Period
- Night sweats can be a symptom associated with various conditions, including menopause, malignancies, autoimmune diseases, and infections 2
- In primary care settings, night sweats are commonly reported by persons without these conditions, and the prevalence estimates range from 10% to 60% among women 2
- The use of combined oral contraceptives (COC) may be a therapeutic option in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can include symptoms such as night sweats 3, 4, 5
- Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol 24/4 is a unique oral contraceptive formulation that has been shown to be effective in improving symptoms of PMDD, including functional impairment 3, 5, 6
- However, there is limited research specifically focusing on night sweats prior to menstrual period, and more studies are needed to understand the relationship between night sweats and menstrual cycle 2
Treatment Options
- Drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol 24/4 has been shown to be effective in alleviating symptoms of PMDD, including somatic and affective/behavioral symptoms 3, 4, 5
- Alpha adrenergic blockers may reduce night sweats in patients taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors 2
- Thalidomide and thioridazine may benefit some terminal cancer patients with night sweats 2
Conclusion is not allowed, and the response will continue with more subheadings if needed
Further Research
- Additional large randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives in the treatment of PMDD and night sweats 5
- More research is needed to understand the mechanisms and clinical causes of night sweats, as well as to develop evidence-based approaches to evaluation and treatment 2