Sleep Apnea and Women (NHLBI / NIH)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health · Published: August 6, 2026 · Accessed: August 6, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• Women may be at increased risk for sleep apnea during and after menopause, in part because of hormone changes.
• Sleep apnea symptoms in women are often different from men: anxiety, daytime sleepiness, depression, morning headaches, insomnia, tiredness, and frequent waking during sleep.
• Because women may not have classic symptoms such as loud snoring, they may not realize they have sleep apnea, and should talk to a provider about any of these symptoms or risk factors.
• Menopause-related insomnia, headaches, and fatigue can make it harder for a woman or her provider to recognize sleep apnea.