Gabi (age 59): “Despite the fact that I went through menopause years ago, my night sweats won't go away”

Gabi works in an office and has two adult children. Although she went through menopause years ago and perimenopause was a breeze, she's experiencing symptoms late in the game: “I've started sweating excessively at night. By excessively, I mean buckets of sweat. Even though it's been years since my last period, it’s getting worse. I really wonder how long this will last.”

“Perimenopause was a breeze”

Gabi was 52 years old when the first signs of menopause appeared. “My mood could change from one moment to the next and I’d get the occasional hot flash. But apart from that, I got through the first stage of menopause relatively easily.” 

Gabi had a hormonal IUD and doesn't know when she had her last period. “All I know is that when I had my IUD removed at the age of 56, my periods had stopped. I thought that I was one of the lucky ones,” she smiles. 

“I wasn't expecting to get symptoms after this long”

“My friends and I talk openly about menopause. They’re having issues like sleep problems and migraine. I was glad that I’d had it so easy. How wrong I was! My symptoms came late, years after menopause.” 

Years after her last period, when she was well into postmenopause, Gabi started sweating profusely at night. “I wasn't sure if this was normal, so I consulted my gynaecologist. She explained that some women still get hot flashes after menopause.” 

Although 80 percent of women have night sweats during perimenopause, what Gabi is experiencing is normal. Just like Gabi, some women can start experiencing symptoms later in life. Sometimes even after they've had their last period. 

"Don't compare your experience to that of others. Just because a friend has more severe symptoms doesn't mean you should dismiss your symptoms and just put up with them."

Night sweats and their causes

Gabi can still see the positive side of it all. “Apart from night sweats, I hardly have any symptoms. I don't have to worry about body odour or sweat marks on my clothes when when I'm at work. I know this can be an issue for some women. I'm glad that my nocturnal hot flashes aren't interfering with my day-to-day activities.” 

Night sweats can, however, stop you from sleeping well and leave your feeling frustrated and exhausted. “They usually last a few minutes at most. But they wake me up and are affecting my sleep quality.” 

Any tips for women with similar issues? “Be kind to yourself and treat yourself to something nice on days when you feel very tired. And keep a diary and record when your symptoms are worse or better. This will help you to listen to what your body's telling you. I now know that alcohol makes my night sweats worse, whereas regular exercise and alternating hot and cold showers helps to reduce them. I also avoid non-breathable synthetic fabrics.” 

“I’m finally on the road to better sleep”

Gabi is now on her way to recovery. “I waited for years for my night sweats to go away on their own. I kept thinking: I’m years into postmenopause, this has to get better at some point. Looking back, I waited too long. If I had seen a doctor sooner maybe hormone therapy could have helped.”  

Gabi is now working with a menopause specialist to see if dietary supplements can help manage her night sweats and improve her sleep. “My advice to other women would be: don't wait too long to seek help. There are many solutions and treatments available to alleviate your symptoms. Don't let them interfere with your well-being.”  

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Personal experiences