The impact of poor sleep on women's midlife transition: A qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological...

Sleep disturbance is a common and distressing symptom of the menopausal transition, and the lived experiences of women with regard to its cognitive, emotional, personal, and professional impacts need further exploration. This study examined midlife women's experiences of poor sleep and its impact on daily functioning, family life, and work.

A qualitative study was undertaken with six cisgender women aged 45-55 years who self-reported poor sleep linked to menopause. Semi-structured online interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed following guidelines for interpretative phenological analysis.

Five themes were identified: the physical, cognitive, and emotional consequences of sleep loss; efforts to regain control through routines and trial-and-error coping; the influence of poor sleep on family relationships and identity; workplace strain and reduced capacity; and, rooted in strength, the unseen battle of women's persistence, resilience, and hope. Women described poor sleep as profoundly affecting daily life, reducing cognition, energy, and confidence, and contributing to irritability. These difficulties stretched relationships and undermined work performance. Although participants showed resilience, they often relied on trial-and-error strategies due to inconsistent professional guidance.

Fragmented healthcare support and limited workplace understanding of sleep disturbance during menopause highlight the need for routine clinical screening, clearer care pathways, and supportive occupational environments. Further research requires more diverse groups of women, exploring structural barriers such as difficulty accessing specialist menopause care, delays in appointments, prescription costs, and workplace stigma to support more equitable and accessible interventions for women experiencing menopause-related sleep disruption.