April 8, 2026

Sleep difficulties affect 40 to 60% of women during the menopausal transition, making menopause insomnia one of the most common and least discussed symptoms of this stage of life. The good news: this isn’t something you simply have to endure.

If someone in your family has always been a terrible sleeper, you’ve probably wondered whether you inherited more than just their nose. The science has a real answer. Genetics plays a role in insomnia — but a smaller and more nuanced one than most people assume. Here’s what the research actually shows, and why it matters for treatment.