Why Does My Body Overheat at Night? Causes and Solutions for Women

Women may feel hot at night because of hormone changes, menopause, bedding, or room temperature. See a doctor if night sweats are severe.

Common causes

• Hormone changes: perimenopause, menopause, menstrual cycle, pregnancy.
• Bedding and room temperature.
• Thyroid issues.
• Night sweats.
• Anxiety.

What helps

• Room at 65 to 68°F.
• Breathable cotton bedding.
• Avoid alcohol and spicy food.

Menopause

Night sweats affect up to 75% of menopausal women.

See a doctor

If sweats drench your sheets, or come with fever or weight loss.

Normal body cooling at night

Core body temperature drops during sleep, but room temperature, bedding and sleepwear can trap heat. Sleeping in a room warmer than 70 degrees F makes it harder.

Hormonal reasons

• Perimenopause and menopause: night sweats affect up to 75% of women during the transition.
• Menstrual cycle: body temperature rises by 0.5 to 1 degree F after ovulation, in the luteal phase, and it may feel hotter before a period.
• Pregnancy raises metabolism and blood flow.
• Postpartum hormonal changes.
• Thyroid overactivity.

Other causes

• Medications: antidepressants (SSRIs), steroids, hormonal therapy, diabetes medicines, opioids.
• Infections or fever.
• Anxiety and stress.
• Alcohol or spicy foods before bed.
• Sleep apnea.
• Low blood sugar.
• Cancers such as lymphoma (rare, often with weight loss and fever).

What helps

• Keep the bedroom at 60 to 67 degrees F.
• Use cotton or moisture-wicking sheets and sleepwear.
• Use a fan or cooling pillow.
• Take a lukewarm shower before bed.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals late.
• Layer bedding so you can remove it.
• Exercise earlier in the day.

Menopause treatment

Hormone therapy, non hormonal medicines (SSRIs/SNRIs, gabapentin, fezolinetant) and cognitive behavioral therapy are options.

See a doctor if

You have drenching sweats most nights, fever, unexplained weight loss, cough, lumps, or sweating with other symptoms. Evaluation may include blood tests and a review of medications.

Body temperature rhythm and hormones

Core temperature naturally falls in the evening and reaches its lowest point in the early morning hours. Heavy bedding, warm rooms and mattresses that trap heat can make it harder to cool down. Hormone shifts matter too: progesterone raises body temperature by about 0.3 to 0.5 C in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and perimenopause and menopause cause night sweats in up to 75 percent of women.

Other triggers

Thyroid overactivity, infections, certain medications (antidepressants, steroids), anxiety, alcohol, spicy food and sleep apnea can cause night heat. Keep the bedroom around 15 to 19 C (60 to 67 F), use breathable cotton, and consider cooling mattress pads. See a doctor if you have drenching sweats with fever, weight loss or swollen lymph nodes.

Based on data from the National Sleep Foundation and the Menopause Society