Research
Hormonal
Menopause increases the risk and severity of OSA in women due to the loss of protective hormonal effects (progesterone) and changes in fat distribution.
If you are postmenopausal and experiencing new sleep issues, snoring, or fatigue, ask about sleep apnea. The protective effect of female hormones decreases after menopause, significantly increasing your risk. It is not just 'part of aging' and is treatable.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Differences between men and women in the prevalence of OSA decrease as age increases, largely as a result of a marked increase in the prevalence and severity of SDB in women after menopause.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple epidemiological studies and physiological experiments.
Source
Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Women: Specific Issues and Interventions
Alison Wimms et al. · BioMed Research International · 2016
DOI 10.1155/2016/1764837
narrative_reviewCited 175×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment significantly improves quality of life, mood, and sleepiness in women with moderate-to-severe OSA, with compliance rates comparable to men.Good
- Women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience similar or worse health consequences, including cardiovascular risk and cognitive impairment, compared to men despite having lower disease severity (lower AHI).Moderate
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