A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Nursing investigated the prevalence and severity of symptoms associated with menopause.

There were 110 women who were entering menopause that participated in the study. Their average age was 49, having had their last menstrual period within 36 months.

The most common and most severe symptom the women reported was sleep disruption. Ninety-five percent of the women reported suffering from sleep difficulties, while 85% suffered from night sweats, and 91% from hot flashes.

Participants ranked the severity of symptoms on a scale of zero (no symptoms) to 4 (extreme symptoms). Average severity of all symptoms combined was 20.8 out of 40 possible points. Difficulty sleeping was reported as most severe at an average of 2.9 out of 4.

For more information about menopause and its effects on women’s sleep, check out the cover story of Sleep Review’s April edition, “Approaching the Age of Sleep Problems”.