Women across the UK are waking up in bed at 3.29am as experts explain why

Research has found that millions across the country wake up at the same time every night. Data from shows that women lie awake in bed at 3.29am.

The cause has been narrowed down to menopause, with approximately 13 million people in the UK being perimenopausal or menopausal. One of the most common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause is insomnia.

The research shows three-quarters of women end up awake in the early morning hours - well before the UK's average wake up time of 7am. More than half (53%) of women say they just toss and turn until they are able to fall back to sleep.

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Up to 30% say they read a book, and the same number scroll on social media. Meanwhile, 20% watch TV, and 17% just stare at the clock.

The study also revealed that over two-thirds (69%) of women reported that menopausal insomnia has adversely affected their emotional health. Additionally, around 60% were unaware of the techniques available to manage menopausal insomnia.

Around 50% felt they lacked a support system during this challenging time. And alarmingly, only a quarter (25%) have asked their doctor for help.

What is menopause?

Menopause marks the time when menstrual cycles come to an end due to a decrease in hormone levels. This transition typically occurs in women aged 45 to 55, although it can begin earlier for some.

Menopause is said to have occurred when you have had no period for 12 consecutive months due to your ovaries having stopped making hormones. After this, you are postmenopausal.

It impacts anyone who experiences menstruation. Menopause can occur naturally or as a result of various factors, such as surgical procedures like oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), cancer treatments including chemotherapy, or even genetic factors. In some cases, the cause remains unclear.

During menopause, individuals may experience symptoms such as anxiety, mood fluctuations, brain fog, hot flashes, and irregular periods. These symptoms can begin several years prior to the cessation of periods and may continue afterwards.

When does it happen?

The states that the menopausal transition typically starts between the ages of 45 and 55. This phase generally lasts around seven years, although it can extend up to 14 years in some cases.

Menopause that occurs before the age of 45 is referred to as early menopause. Menopause that happens before the age of 40 is known as premature menopause.

About 5% of the population experiences spontaneous (natural) early menopause. Whereas premature menopause is estimated to impact 1% of women under 40 and 0.1% of women under 30.

Premature menopause differs from the typical menopause, which usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. In the case of premature menopause, the ovaries fail to function correctly, leading to a halt in egg production much earlier than expected.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are many different types of symptoms that people can experience as they transition through the menopause. Some are well-known, and others can come as a surprise. Symptoms can be:

• physical, such as muscle aches and pains, headaches, palpitations, bladder issues
• they can be psychological, such as anxiety, low mood and depressive symptoms
• there are cognitive symptoms such as brain fog and memory issues
• some people are impacted by loss of libido
• while vasomotor symptoms impact many others - hot flushes and night sweats, or some people feel colder rather than hotter

Sleep is also an issue for many. This is due to changes in hormones or the impact of other symptoms that may keep them awake or disturb sleep.

Menopause expert Dr Clare Spencer says: "We always recommend you speak to your healthcare practitioner or a menopause doctor if you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms or want to talk about your long-term health. They can discuss different options with you, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and advise on any lifestyle changes that could help.

"They should also be able to sign post you to information about the menopause and ways of managing symptoms."