During perimenopause, your ovaries begin producing lower amounts of key hormones. This includes estrogen and progesterone. As these hormone levels fall, symptoms of menopause surge. One such symptom is insomnia.

After ovulation, your progesterone rises. Lee calls this “the soporific hormone” — in other words, one that can make you drowsy. Then, just a few days before the start of your next period, estrogen and progesterone levels drop. And this is when many women have trouble sleeping.

Progesterone supplementation is very often useful if you have documented progesterone deficiencies or estrogen excesses. Melatonin levels can be measured at night, and melatonin can be effective in alleviating the insomnia of PMS.

Hormonal changes can wreak havoc on sleep. In turn, sleep deprivation can affect hormone levels in a sleepless vicious cycle. So when hormone levels spike or drop — such as during the menstrual cycle, during and after pregnancy, and especially around menopause — women may be more vulnerable to sleep problems.

Melatonin, released by the pineal gland , controls your sleep patterns. Levels increase at night time, making you feel sleepy. While you’re sleeping, your pituitary gland releases growth hormone, which helps your body to grow and repair itself.

Estrogen also has an antidepressant effect. With less estrogen, women may experience higher body temperatures, lower quality sleep, and poorer mood. Our sleep-wake cycle also changes as we age, and loses its consistency. We begin to feel tired earlier, and wake up earlier in the morning, leading to less sleep overall.

There’s growing evidence that several parts of the brain shrink in people with depression. Specifically, these areas lose gray matter volume (GMV). That’s tissue with a lot of brain cells. GMV loss seems to be higher in people who have regular or ongoing depression with serious symptoms.

Hormonal Fluctuations The same hormones that control your menstrual cycle also influence serotonin, a brain chemical that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness. When hormone levels drop, serotonin levels also fall, which contributes to increased irritability, anxiety and sadness.

Reproductive hormones and stress hormones can also cause mental health symptoms. “Drops in estrogen and progesterone can make us irritable and anxious,” says Gillian Goddard, MD, NY-based endocrinologist. “The stress hormone cortisol can cause anxiety and depression that can be severe if left unaddressed.”

A: Changes in hormone levels may influence neurotransmitters in the brain. The drop in estrogen levels can also lead to hot flashes that disturb sleep, which can then lead to anxiety and mood swings. If you experience symptoms of depression nearly every day for two or more weeks, you might be depressed.

Things that can help to keep anxiety in check include:

1. Aerobic exercise. Research shows that those who get regular exercise throughout the month have less severe PMS symptoms.
2. Relaxation techniques. Using relaxation techniques to reduce stress may help control your premenstrual anxiety.
3. Sleep.
4. Diet.
5. Vitamins.