An occasional sleepless night is nothing to worry about. But if insomnia bothers you for three weeks or longer, it can be a real medical problem. Some medical problems that lead to insomnia in women include: healthren.com

• Depression and anxiety disorders.
• Over-activity of the thyroid gland.
• Heart or lung conditions that cause shortness of breath when lying down.
• Allergies and early-morning wheezing.
• Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
• Any illness, injury or surgery that causes pain and/or discomfort, such as arthritis, which interrupts sleep.
• Any disorder (urinary, gastrointestinal or neurological) that makes it necessary to urinate or have a bowel movement during the night.
• Side effects of certain medications, such as decongestants and cortisone drugs.

Other things that lead to insomnia are: healthren.com

• Emotional stress.
• Lack of a sex partner.
• Too much noise when falling asleep. This includes a snoring partner.
• Stimulants such as caffeine from coffee, tea, colas or chocolate and stay awake pills such as NoDoz.
• A lack of physical exercise.

The first line of treatment for insomnia is to look for and address the cause. For example, estrogen can help treat hot flashes in menopause. It comes in oral tablets or in a patch that is applied to the skin. Medication and other measures may be needed to treat other conditions that keep you from getting a full night’s sleep.