DrSugar is in the house! This week she's discussing possible causes for night sweats.
Dear DrSugar,
I have been having night sweats and waking up soaking wet about two nights a week. I am only 32, so it better not be menopause! This all started about two months, and interestingly enough I started training for a marathon four months ago. I have been steadily increasing my weekly mileage and have lost some weight and gained some muscle. My period has been a bit lighter too. I still get it, but it is shorter by two days or so. Any idea of what is going on?
— Sweaty Sleeper
First of all, congratulations on training for your first marathon; what an accomplishment that will be! To answer your question, there could be a lot of things going on, and I don’t think I can single in on even a couple of diagnoses, as there are so many things that can cause lighter periods/irregular periods as well as night sweats. Since you mentioned menopause specifically, I will discuss premature menopause today, as well as the common causes of irregular periods and night sweats. I suggest you be seen by your primary care provider for further workup, as there are many diagnoses that would need to be entertained for your constellation of symptoms. To learn more, keep reading.
