October 2, 2025, 9:08 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Do you experience this too? Whenever you have your period, do you sweat more than usual? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Carmen Dörfler has summarized why this increased sweating, especially at night, occurs and what you can do about it.
As if menstruation itself isn’t already a physical and psychological burden for many women, it often comes with a range of symptoms. In addition to cramps, diarrhea, or mood swings, increased sweating during the period is a common PMS symptom.
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Sweating During the Period Can Be a Symptom of PMS
PMS affects about 30 to 50 percent of women of childbearing age.1 It stands for premenstrual syndrome, which refers to a range of physical and emotional symptoms that often occur before the period. The main reason for all these “side effects,” including sweating during the period, is the hormonal changes during the cycle, primarily the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone.2
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Hormonal Fluctuations Can Be to Blame for Sweating
Estrogen
While PMS usually disappears with the onset of menstruation or shortly thereafter, sweating during the period can persist. If hormonal fluctuations are the cause, it’s because estrogen levels drop significantly before and during the period. Since the hormone estrogen affects the part of the brain responsible for regulating body temperature, the body may react more strongly to slight temperature changes and overheat more quickly. To counteract this overheating, we start to sweat.
Progesterone
But it’s not just the fluctuations in estrogen levels; the hormone progesterone can also play a role. Before menstruation begins, during the luteal phase, which is the second half of the cycle, progesterone levels rise, causing the core body temperature to increase by up to 0.5 degrees. This makes us feel warmer from the start, and we begin to sweat more quickly.
Cortisol
Stress can also play a role. Some people have physical reactions to stressful situations, such as turning red when embarrassed. If you’re one of these people, there’s a good chance that sweating during your period could be related. Next time, pay attention to whether sweating increases when you’re stressed or emotionally reactive. The culprit is again a hormone, the stress hormone cortisol. It’s released more during stressful and hectic situations, which can lead to sweating.
Sweating and Increased Urination Could Be Related
Changes in fluid balance during the period can also lead to sweating, as the body may try to get rid of excess fluid. Especially if you find yourself visiting the bathroom more often during your period, it could be a sign of edema.
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Night Sweats Not Just a Sign of Menopause
Some women sweat mostly at night, sometimes independently of their period. This form is primarily known as a symptom of menopause. However, it can also occur during ovulation and the PMS phase.
What Can Help Against Sweating During the Period
These effects are unpleasant but generally harmless. Often, it can help to resort to cooling measures, such as breathable clothing or sleeping at a lower room temperature. If hormonal fluctuations are to blame for your sweating during the period, a lifestyle change aimed at minimizing these fluctuations can help. This includes the usual: a healthy diet, adequate sleep, regular exercise, effective stress management. But herbal supplements or medicinal herbs can also help. If in doubt, seek advice from a pharmacy or your gynecologist.