Episodes of intense sweating during sleep — often severe enough to wake you and drench your bedding. They are the nocturnal version of hot flushes and one of the most disruptive symptoms of menopause. Many women describe waking suddenly, feeling intensely hot, then quickly becoming cold and struggling to get back to sleep. Over time, broken sleep affects everything — energy, concentration, mood and the ability to cope. If this sounds familiar, you are far from alone.

The same reason as hot flushes — falling oestrogen disrupts the brain's temperature control. During sleep, when your body is already going through natural temperature changes, this can trigger sudden heat responses that wake you. Worrying about waking in the night can make things worse — even on nights when symptoms are mild. Understanding this cycle is the first step to breaking it.

Please speak to your GP if night sweats are regularly disrupting your sleep, if you are unsure whether they are related to menopause — night sweats can occasionally have other causes and it is worth ruling these out — or if you would like to discuss treatment options including HRT.

"In Her Prime" includes sleep strategies developed specifically for women experiencing night sweats — not generic sleep advice, but practical tools built around the disruption that night-time symptoms cause. You will learn how the cycle of night sweats and poor sleep reinforces itself — and how to break it. In Her Prime does not cure night sweats. It gives you practical skills so they have less power over your sleep and your day. In Her Prime is a learning programme — not therapy or medical advice. Please speak to your GP about any medical concerns.

Keep your bedroom cool — a fan or open window can make a real difference Use lightweight, breathable natural bedding and nightwear Keep a cool drink beside your bed for when you wake Avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy food in the hours before bed Create a consistent wind-down routine before sleep If you wake during a night sweat, slow your breathing — it helps bring the episode to an end more quickly