September 04, 2025

S4 Ep184: Sleep and Menopause -A Wake Up Call with Dr. James Simon

58 minutes

Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbance are the three most common symptoms of menopause. Currently, there are over 20 FDA-approved products to treat hot flashes. There are roughly 10 FDA-approved products to treat vaginal dryness. There are zero FDA-approved products to treat insomnia due to menopause. Zero.

My guest is Dr. James Simon, a clinical professor of Ob-Gyn at George Washington University and an expert on all things menopause.

In this episode:

How common it is for women to have new-onset sleep disturbances due to hormonal changes?

Are Insomnia and sleep disturbance the same thing

What happens in the brain to induce sleep and maintain sleep

How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy works

The relationship between hot flashes and insomnia

The role of estrogen and sleep

How FSH is useful to evaluate sleep issues

The role of progesterone on sleep

The role of melatonin

Non-hormonal sleep disruptors

The impact of chronic insomnia

Treatments

Estrogen

Progesterone

Anti-depressants

Sleeping pill

Sex/Orgasm

Advil PM

CBT

Sleep hygiene

Melatonin

Magnesium

L-Threonate

Vasopressin

PDE-5 Inhibitors

NK Inhibitors

Dr. James Simon

https://intimmedicine.com/

Other episodes with Dr. Simon

· Ep 98 Live from the Menopause Society Meeting

· Episode 123 Hormone Therapy After Age 60 with Dr. James Simon

· Episode 124 All Hormones Are Not Created Equal with Dr. James Simon

Lauren Streicher MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society.

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine.

LINKS

Subscribe To Dr. Streicher’s Substack

Information About the COME AGAIN Podcast

Dr. Streicher’s CV and additional bio information

To Find a Menopause Clinician and Other Resources

Glossary Of Medical Terminology

Books by Lauren Streicher, MD

Slip Sliding Away: Turning Back the Clock on Your Vagina-A gynecologist’s guide to eliminating post-menopause dryness and pain

Hot Flash Hell: A Gynecologist's Guide to Turning Down the Heat

Sex Rx- Hormones, Health, and Your Best Sex Ever

The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy

Dr. Streicher’s Inside Information podcast is for education and information and is not intended to replace medical advice from your personal healthcare clinician. Dr. Streicher disclaims liability for any medical outcomes that may occur because of applying methods suggested or discussed in this podcast.