Researchers at Harvard published the results of a study that analyzed more than 94,000 nights of Apple Watch sleep data to better understand how sleep patterns change during menopause. Here are the details.
The study analyzed more than 94,000 nights of Apple Watch sleep data
For the past few years, Apple has used the Apple Watch as a way to fund major health studies through the Apple Research app.
That includes the Apple Women’s Health Study, the Apple Heart and Movement Study, and the Apple Hearing Study, launched in 2019 with research partners including Harvard, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the American Heart Association, and the University of Michigan.
By February 2025, Apple said those courses had grown to more than 350,000 participants across the US.
Recently, the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health published the results (via Aaron Perris) of a study that looked at how sleep patterns change during menopause.
The study used more than 94,000 nights of Apple Watch sleep data from 338 Apple Women’s Health Study participants ages 25 to 59, most of whom were 45 to 59 years old.
According to the data, “12 months before and 12 months after their last period, most participants spent more time awake at night.”
Additionally, the study also found that “in the 18 months leading up to menopause, 60% of women with sleep tracking data showed an increase in WASO (awakening after sleep) relative to the previous 6 months,” with an average increase of 7%.
The researchers also noted that “in the 12 months before and in the 12 months after their last period, participants spent about 0.8% of their sleep time awake after menopause compared to before.”
Importantly, the researchers emphasized that the results varied greatly across participants, noting that “each person experiences menopause and menopause differently.”
Some participants had a significant increase in wakefulness after menopause, while others had no significant change in sleep at all.
Finally, participants who tracked their sleep in the study also reported other menopausal symptoms, with hot flashes reported by 82.3%, irritability by 68.1%, mental fatigue by 65.7%, and sexual symptoms by 65.6%.
Of the participants who reported worse menopausal symptoms, the symptoms most associated with worse sleep were bladder symptoms, joint symptoms, heart discomfort, and depressive symptoms.
Researchers also share recommendations that can help women get better sleep during perimenopause, including:
- Maintaining a cool temperature in the bedroom
- Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
- Always check in
- Avoiding frequent bladder irritation and limiting fluids in the hours before bed
- Prioritizing methods of relaxation and mindfulness in your sleep schedule.
For more information on the survey results, follow this link.
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