Sleep Apnea Sleep Apnea and Women

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Women may be more at risk for sleep apnea during pregnancy, or during and after menopause, because of hormone changes. Hormone problems in women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may also raise the risk of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea symptoms may be different for women compared with men. Women more often have the following symptoms:

• Anxiety
• Daytime sleepiness
• Depression
• Headaches, especially in the morning
• Insomnia
• Tiredness
• Waking up often during sleep

Because you may not have common sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring, you may not think that you have this condition. It is important that you talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms or if you have any risk factors for sleep apnea.

During pregnancy, changes to a woman’s upper airway or to the way the brain controls breathing raise a woman’s risk of sleep apnea or make it worse. Sleep apnea is often more serious in the third trimester of pregnancy and may improve after your baby is born. Pregnant women who are older or who have obesity have a higher risk of sleep apnea. In pregnant women, sleep apnea can cause many complications, including:

• Cesarean sections
• Gestational diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Low birth weight
• Preterm birth

Breathing devices such as CPAP machines are safe for treating sleep apnea during pregnancy. Because pregnancy causes changes to your body, you may need to see a sleep specialist to adjust the settings of your CPAP machine during and after your pregnancy.