What Causes Night Sweats in Women?

Our bodies sweat daily. In fact, there are several types of sweating. For example, night sweats—also known as “thief sweats”—are a pathological manifestation reflecting an underlying health condition. Once night sweats occur, patients must seek timely medical treatment and understand the associated disease characteristics and underlying causes. So, what causes night sweats in women during sleep?

What Causes Night Sweats in Women During Sleep?

Night sweats in women may be related to Kidney Yin Deficiency syndrome. When Yin (the body’s cooling, nourishing aspect) becomes deficient, Yang (the warming, active aspect) becomes relatively excessive, generating internal “deficient heat.” During nighttime sleep, invasion by pathogenic Yin factors may exacerbate Kidney Yin Deficiency; the accumulated internal heat escapes through the skin, resulting in night sweats. Upon waking, defensive Qi (Wei Qi) regains its protective function, preventing further invasion by pathogenic Yin factors—thus halting the sweating. Therefore, night sweats primarily stem from constitutional weakness and emotional disturbances. Women with inherently weak constitutions—due to congenital insufficiency, general physical debility, or Yin-Yang imbalance—may experience night sweats. Similarly, major surgery or severe illness can weaken the constitution and disrupt Yin-Yang balance, leading to night sweats.

Some women may experience night sweats during special physiological periods—such as menstruation or pregnancy—due to deficiency of Qi and Blood. Typically, no specific treatment is required; symptoms often resolve spontaneously after these physiological phases conclude. Women experiencing night sweats should pay attention to diet, nutrition, and ensure adequate daily rest. If symptoms persist, they should promptly consult a healthcare provider for evaluation and diagnosis, and follow physician guidance regarding appropriate medications or complementary therapies—including moxibustion, massage, or gua sha (scraping therapy).

Patients are advised to consume more cooling, Yin-nourishing, and fluid-generating foods—such as watermelon, pear, citrus fruits (e.g., tangerines, oranges), apple, persimmon, loofah, lily bulb, tomato, fresh lotus root, tremella fungus (silver ear), lotus seed, and soft-shell turtle—while avoiding spicy and stimulating foods.