Insomnia is an unwelcome side effect of early menopause for many women. It was believed that night sweats were the main cause of insomnia in menopausal women, but the current belief is that the condition is connected with the drop in the brain chemical serotonin that occurs when your estrogen levels decline. The drop in hormonal levels is also a contributing factor. To combat menopausal insomnia, the sufferer should begin a program of hormone replacement therapy to stabilize hormone levels. Herbs, vitamins and phyto-estrogens may also be beneficial. The following behavioral changes may also prove beneficial:

• Get in some exercise every day ( but not in the evening before bed time)

• Establish a night time routine which you find relaxing and enjoyable

• Have a warm bath 90 minutes before bed-time

• Don’t eat within 90 minutes of retiring

• If you can’t sleep, stop tossing and turning and put on the light. Reach for your favorite book and enjoy the solitude.