Best Mattress for Menopause

The symptoms of menopause can make getting quality sleep more difficult. The National Institute on Aging lists an array of symptoms women might experience as their estrogen levels fluctuate. Hot flashes, night sweats, and aches and pains may be the most impactful on the sleep experience.

If you’re suffering from menopause symptoms, you may want to consult your doctor for advice and guidance. A mattress cannot completely eliminate menopause symptoms, but the right mattress could help promote a better night’s sleep by allowing cooling airflow and relieving aches and pains.

In this guide, we’ll share our picks for the best mattress for menopause. We’ll also detail the best type of mattress for menopause and explain what shoppers should consider when selecting the right mattress for them.

How to Choose a Mattress for Menopause

For women going through menopause, the right mattress could make a major difference in the overall comfort and quality of a night’s sleep.

What to Look for in a Mattress

Each individual may prioritize different features in a mattress, but the symptoms associated with menopause may make some features more important than others. Considering the following factors may help you find the best mattress for you.

• Price: Mattress prices vary a great deal. Budget-friendly options start around a few hundred dollars, while luxury models may be several thousand dollars. High-end options may have more advanced materials and durable constructions, but affordable models can also be comfortable. Women going through menopause may also wish to leave room in their budgets for additional sleep accessories, like a cooling pillow and breathable sheets.
• Quality Materials: The materials used in a mattress affect its durability and performance. High-quality materials tend to last longer, which can extend the usable lifespan of the mattress. Some materials are also specially engineered to improve the mattress’s performance. Menopause sufferers may be particularly interested in mattresses that use components designed for temperature regulation and/or pressure relief.
• Firmness Level: Firmness preferences tend to vary based on a person’s weight and favored sleep position. Heavier individuals, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers frequently prefer a firmer model, while lighter-weight individuals and side sleepers often like a plusher surface. Firmer models tend to retain less heat, so they may be a good option for women suffering from hot flashes. Softer models frequently provide more pressure relief and motion isolation, so they might appeal to women who experience aches and pains during the night or who wake up easily when their partner moves.
• Pressure Relief: Some parts of the body naturally put more force on the mattress, which can lead to pressure points. Because a person’s hips and shoulders are usually wider and heavier than the rest of their bodies, these regions are particularly prone to pressure buildup. To relieve pressure, some mattresses redistribute the sleeper’s weight more evenly across the mattress surface. Women experiencing menopause-related aches and pains may appreciate a mattress with strong pressure relief.
• Edge Support: Some mattresses have reinforced edges to make the perimeter of the bed feel more secure. This can make it easier to sit or sleep near the perimeter of the bed, expanding the usable mattress surface. This extra surface area could give menopause sufferers the space they need to cool off during a hot flash and/or reposition to accommodate aches and pains.
• Contouring: Contouring occurs when a mattress shapes to the sleeper’s body. This can help promote better spinal alignment and relieve pressure buildup. Women suffering from aches and pains associated with menopause may appreciate mattresses that contour to their bodies. However, it is important to note that some close-conforming mattresses could trap heat if the materials aren’t breathable enough.
• Temperature Regulation: For women going through menopause, temperature regulation may be one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a mattress. The right mattress can allow the sleeper’s body heat to dissipate rather than trapping it against their body. Some mattresses can also help wick away moisture to keep the sleeper cool, dry, and comfortable. Mattresses that use coils and/or latex tend to sleep cool. Foam models are often more associated with heat retention, but many now have special features to allow more air circulation.
• Ease of Movement: Some mattresses are easier to move on than others, which can affect the sleeper’s ability to change positions. Mattresses that are soft, close-conforming, and/or slow to respond to changes in pressure could restrict movement since sleepers may feel like they have to escape their own body impressions. Women who tend to change positions during the night due to menopause symptoms may prefer a mattress that doesn’t limit their movement.
• Mattress Type: A mattress’s construction and materials influence its overall performance. Each type of mattress has certain common characteristics that may make it appropriate for women going through menopause. Below, we’ll discuss each common type of mattress in more detail.

What Type of Mattress is Best for Menopause?

Mattresses can use a wide array of materials, but most models can be classified as one of the five main types. Individual mattress models may have some variations, but most mattresses in the same category share some similar traits.

Hybrid

Definition: Hybrid mattresses use a mixture of materials. While the core is made up of coils, the comfort system may contain memory foam, polyfoam, latex, microcoils, wool, or a combination of materials. This design aims to fuse the benefits of multiple types of mattresses without as many potential drawbacks.

Highlight: Balanced Pressure Relief and Temperature Regulation. Hybrid models usually have significant comfort layers that provide contouring and pressure relief that could help relieve aches and pains associated with menopause. Their coil cores tend to allow enough airflow to regulate the temperature of the sleep surface, which may be beneficial for women experiencing hot flashes or night sweats.

Innerspring

Definition: Innerspring models are made up primarily of springs. They may also contain thin comfort layers, but the bulk of an innerspring mattress is its coil core. Innerspring mattresses are usually considered more traditional than other designs. Since they have been on the market for a long time, they also tend to be more affordable.

Highlight: Breathability. Air flows through coil systems, so innerspring models tend to be quite breathable, and menopause sufferers might be able to enjoy a cooler night’s sleep. Additionally, innerspring models usually have thin comfort layers that are unlikely to conform closely enough to trap much heat or create a “trapped in the bed” feel.

Latex

Definition: Latex foam is generally made using the sap of rubber trees, but synthetic and blended versions are also available. Talalay latex has a bouncier feel and is generally more breathable, making it a popular choice for comfort layers. Dunlop latex is usually denser and more durable. It may be used in a comfort layer or support core.

Highlight: Contouring Without Much Sinkage. Latex has low point elasticity, which means it tends to compress over a wider area when weight is applied. It usually contours enough for good pressure relief, but the way it compresses limits the sinking sensation sometimes associated with all-foam models. Many sleepers liken this to a floating sensation.

Airbed

Definition: Airbeds get their name from the air chambers that serve as their support system. Depending on the model, a crank, an app, or a remote may be used to fill and empty the chambers. Some airbeds also contain thin comfort layers for extra cushioning on the surface of the bed.

Highlight: Adjustability. The chambers of an airbed are usually easy to fill or empty, and doing so adjusts the firmness of the bed. Women who are going through physical changes that could affect their firmness preferences may appreciate this flexibility. Since many airbeds use separate air chambers on either side of the bed, they might also accommodate partners with different firmness preferences.

Foam

Definition: Memory foam and polyfoam are the most common materials used in all-foam models. Models can be constructed entirely of polyfoam, though many use memory foam in their comfort systems for closer conforming.

Highlight: Pressure-Relieving Hug. Foam mattresses, especially those that use memory foam, tend to have more hug than most types of mattresses. This close contouring can help redistribute the sleeper’s weight to ward off pressure buildup, so a foam mattress may appeal to women with a lot of aches and pains. Some sleepers also find the hug of foam comforting.

How Does Menopause Affect Sleep?

Poor sleep is a frequent symptom of menopause. However, rather than this being just one symptom, its root cause may actually be a combination of several symptoms.

During menopause, many women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats. Overheating during the night may lead to discomfort and sleep disruptions. Some mattresses trap heat near the sleeper’s body, which could exacerbate this problem. More breathable mattress models can help the sleeper stay cooler and drier throughout the night, which may be particularly important for women during menopause.

Menopause can also trigger aches and pains, including muscle pain, joint pain, and headaches. While a mattress may not relieve these symptoms, the right mattress may be less likely to exacerbate them. Mattresses can relieve pressure points and promote proper spinal alignment, so while women going through menopause may experience discomfort, the right mattress shouldn’t contribute to it.

Women may also be more likely to snore or develop sleep apnea as they age, which could interrupt sleep. Many people snore less when sleeping on their sides, so a mattress that is comfortable for side sleeping may be a good option for women during menopause. Sleeping on the back may lead to more snoring, so some back sleepers choose to use a wedge pillow to prop up their upper bodies.

Since many women gain weight during menopause, they may sink into their mattresses more deeply than they used to. If their mattress was the ideal firmness before, this extra sinkage could contribute to pressure buildup and/or make it more difficult to maintain proper spinal alignment.

Anxiety and depression are also associated with menopause. Psychology Today notes that these symptoms could both contribute to sleep issues and be the result of sleep problems, so it may be paramount to find the right mattress that helps the sleeper get the best rest possible.

Last Things to Consider with a Mattress for Menopause

While we’ve detailed some of the main factors that could come into play when purchasing a mattress, you may still have a few more questions. Here are a few final things to consider as you select the best mattress for your menopause symptoms.

How Can I Get Relief On a Budget?

Methods for getting relief on a budget are likely to vary based on your symptoms. If your primary concern is sleeping hot, investing in breathable sheets, a cooling pillow, and/or a good fan may be an effective way to modify your sleep surface without spending much money. If your mattress is still supportive but you want extra cushioning and pressure relief, a mattress topper may also be useful.

How Much of an Investment Do I Need to Make?

Mattresses are available at a wide range of price points, so customers can choose how much of an investment they’re comfortable making. Affordable models often perform well, but they may wear out faster. Higher-end mattresses often use advanced materials that can help improve their performance and longevity. Which option is best for you may depend on your goals, needs, and budget.

Mattress Warranty and Other Policies

While many customers don’t look closely at company policies, they may be important to consider as you purchase your mattress.

Many direct-to-consumer mattress companies ship the mattress compressed in a box, so if you think your menopause symptoms could make it difficult for you to set up your mattress, you may want to look for a company with White Glove delivery. Additionally, the length and conditions of a company’s in-home trial may be influential, particularly if you’re unsure whether the mattress will meet your needs.

A company’s warranty policy may also be important to consider. Warranty policies vary a great deal in length, terms, and conditions, so looking at the warranty ahead of time can give you a better idea of what defects are covered. Plus, understanding your responsibilities can help you ensure you maintain the necessary documentation and avoid violating terms that could lead to voiding the warranty.