Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Women: Why They Look Different Than You'd Expect

Clinically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD and Brandi Campbell, NP

If you’re like many people, envisioning someone with sleep apnea usually conjures up images of a heavy-set, middle-aged man snoring loudly in his sleep. While this description is  sometimes accurate, it doesn't account for the millions of women with the condition—many of whom snore quietly or not at all. Sleep apnea symptoms in women often look very different  and can overlap with common symptoms they might  experience during pregnancy, menopause, or due to other conditions. If you're a woman who can't seem to beat bone-crushing fatigue, but you're still experiencing insomnia and your mood is tanking, all at the same time, it might be time to get checked for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea symptoms in women often look less like loud snoring and more like fatigue, trouble sleeping, and mood changes.

A 2026 review estimated that obstructive sleep apnea, which causes repeated breathing disruptions during sleep, affects 26% of women age 20 and older in the United States. Unfortunately, “because symptoms can be more subtle, sleep apnea in women is often underrecognized,” says Dr. Joshua Roland, one of the medical directors of Dreem Health, a virtual sleep clinic.

In fact, up to 75% of cases go undetected because women — and even their healthcare providers — often attribute their symptoms to stress, mood disorders, or perimenopause. 

Let’s take a deeper look at sleep apnea symptoms in women, how they differ from those of men, what happens if sleep apnea goes untreated, and how to get tested for the condition.

What do sleep apnea symptoms look like in women?

Signs of sleep apnea in women vary, but here are some of the most common symptoms:

• Persistent daytime fatigue: “Fatigue is the most common symptom of sleep apnea in women,” says Dr. Jordan Weiner of Weiner Sleep Surgery. Many women report feeling tired all the time, no matter how much sleep they get.

• Loud, subtle, or absent snoring: Snoring is a leading predictor of sleep apnea. However, women are more likely than men to snore subtly or have sleep apnea without snoring. What’s more, some women who do snore may not realize or report it. In any case, a lack of snoring doesn’t rule out sleep apnea.

• Insomnia and fragmented sleep: Women with sleep apnea often have trouble falling or staying asleep.

• Cognitive symptoms: Poor sleep and fatigue can lead to brain fog as well as difficulty focusing, reacting, and learning.

• Mood changes: Since sleep apnea disrupts the neurochemistry of sleep for women, it’s often linked to anxiety, depression, and irritability.

• Headaches: Reduced oxygen during sleep can lead to headaches, especially in the morning.

• Dry mouth: People with sleep apnea are much more likely to wake up with a dry mouth. 

• Nocturia: Many women with sleep apnea wake up repeatedly to use the restroom. 

• Night sweats: People with sleep apnea who experience larger drops in oxygen levels during sleep may be more likely to have night sweats.

Women may have stereotypical symptoms of sleep apnea such as frequent loud snoring, choking, and gasping for air. However, these symptoms are less common than they are in men. Women are more likely than men to experience symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, insomnia, mood changes, and headaches.

Why sleep apnea in women is so often missed

Sleep apnea is often missed because women don’t fit the stereotype—namely, an older man who snores loudly. There’s also a lot of overlap between symptoms of sleep apnea in women and conditions (or life situations) such as:

• Insomnia: Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder. When it’s diagnosed, some healthcare providers end their investigation there without exploring possible causes. 

• Depression and anxiety: Sleep apnea can lead to sleep deprivation, which contributes to symptoms such as depression and anxiety. Mental healthcare providers may not consider sleep apnea a possible culprit.

• Perimenopause: Sleep issues during perimenopause are common, and so are headaches and fatigue. Depending on your age, your healthcare provider might dismiss your symptoms as “normal.”

• Lifestyle: “Frequently, a woman’s fatigue is attributed to the demands of juggling family, work, and household responsibilities,” says Dr. Weiner.

Another important note: Black women and women of color face a higher underdiagnosis risk. This may be because their symptoms may present differently, and they are less likely to be screened for the condition.

Unfortunately, undiagnosed sleep apnea often gets worse over time, exacerbating its effects on daily life. It also raises the risk of health issues, as we’ll explore later.

How sleep apnea symptoms differ in women vs. men

A 2026 study found that women have higher respiratory effort and a lower number of apneas, on average, especially prior to menopause. They also tend to experience less oxygen depletion. Two co-authors on this study were Jean-Benoît Martinot and Nhat-Nam Le-Dong, who are, respectively, a scientific advisor and data scientist at Sunrise, the parent company of Dreem Health. 

The differences in sleep apnea between men and women may be thanks to hormones and anatomy. “Hormonal protection, primarily from estrogen, helps maintain the upper airway tone during sleep,” says Dr. Roland. 

Differences in fat distribution may also contribute. Men store more fat in their neck and upper body, on average. This makes upper airway collapse more likely. Meanwhile, premenopausal women tend to store more fat in their limbs and lower body — farther away from their respiratory system. With less pressure against the airway, sleep apnea symptoms in women are often milder.

That said, every woman is different. “Research in transgender women is still limited, but growing,” says Roland. “Scientists are studying how hormone therapy, body composition, and fat distribution may affect sleep apnea risk and symptoms.” For instance, some research suggests that gender-affirming hormone therapy involving estrogen might reduce the severity of sleep apnea, but more studies are needed.

“Research in transgender women is still limited, but growing. Scientists are studying how hormone therapy, body composition, and fat distribution may affect sleep apnea risk and symptoms.” - Dr. Joshua Roland, Medical Director of Dreem/Sunrise Sleep.

What increases a woman’s risk of sleep apnea?

A variety of factors affect a woman’s risk of sleep apnea, including pregnancy, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), and menopause. Universal risk factors—such as obesity, airway anatomy, and family history—also play a role.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea in women, especially as gestation progresses. This is likely because pregnancy can cause changes in the upper airway or in the way the brain controls breathing.

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)

Women with PMOS (formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS) are at least twice as likely to have sleep apnea. This may be because of hormonal differences.

Menopause

Menopause may more than double a woman’s risk of developing sleep apnea. Some research suggests that roughly half of postmenopausal women have the condition.

The connection between sleep apnea and menopause may be due to changes in hormones. “Estrogen and progesterone levels decline, which can contribute to upper airway collapse,” says Dr. Roland.

Weight changes may also play a role. Many women gain weight during the menopause transition. This may lead to more fat around the neck, which can obstruct breathing.

After menopause, women are more likely to have stereotypical symptoms of sleep apnea like loud snoring and gasping for air, but this doesn’t apply to everyone. 

Universal Risk Factors

Universal risk factors — such as weight, airway anatomy, and family history — affect women’s risk of sleep apnea, as well. With that said, obesity is a weaker predictor of sleep apnea among women than men. Women with sleep apnea “are often not overweight,” says Dr. Weiner.

What happens if sleep apnea goes untreated?

Untreated sleep apnea typically doesn’t go away on its own. Not only can it get in the way of your sleep, but the effort required to repeatedly restart breathing can harm your organs and blood vessels. All of this can contribute to health problems such as the following:

• Cardiovascular disease: Sleep apnea is associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart attacks, and coronary artery disease. It may also increase the risk of heart failure.

• Hypertension: Sudden drops of oxygen in the blood can increase blood pressure and possibly lead to hypertension.

• Type 2 diabetes: Obstructive sleep apnea raises a person’s risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. This may be due to fluctuations in oxygen levels.

• Depression: Research suggests that depression is twice as common among people with sleep apnea than people without it. The link may be especially strong for people who snore, gasp, or stop breathing more often while asleep.

• Parkinson’s Disease: A 2025 study of more than 11 million United States veterans linked obstructive sleep apnea with the development of Parkinson disease. 

• Cognitive decline: Low oxygen levels during REM sleep may damage parts of the brain involved in memory. This may raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, which “is especially concerning for women,” says Dr. Weiner. “Their risk is already higher than that for men.”

• Pregnancy complications: Untreated sleep apnea during pregnancy can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, low birth weight, and preterm birth. 

In addition, untreated sleep apnea may interfere with daily functioning and quality of life, possibly contributing to car accidents and lost productivity. It has also been linked to a lower life expectancy. 

For these reasons and more, Dr. Weiner suggests that women with sleep apnea symptoms see a doctor to explore the possibility of sleep apnea and other health conditions like thyroid disease and anemia. Addressing the cause of your symptoms is key to preventing more problems in the long run.

According to Dr. Roland, women should also consider sleep apnea testing if they have health problems that often overlap with the condition, such as high blood pressure. Dreem Health offers convenient, affordable sleep testing. Book a telehealth appointment now.

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

If you think you might have sleep apnea, that’s a good reason to see a sleep specialist. When you do, they’ll ask you questions about your symptoms, risk factors, and family history. The next step is typically to take one of two sleep tests: an in-lab or home sleep study.

Together, you and your sleep specialist decide which one is best for you. This decision is based on your medical history, personal preferences, insurance coverage, and your sleep specialist’s recommendations.  

Want sleep apnea testing from the comfort of your home? Book a virtual sleep consultation at Dreem Health.

Home sleep testing

A home sleep test is a simple monitor using sensors that track your breathing, oxygen levels, and sleep-related data. It isn’t quite as comprehensive as an in-lab sleep study, but it may offer a more accurate reading of how you actually sleep. This is because you’ll be in your typical sleep surroundings. Home sleep tests are also more affordable, on average.

The FDA-granted home sleep test provided at Dreem Health is specifically designed for comfort and convenience, with no machines or wires. Setup takes only a few minutes. A board-certified sleep physician then reviews your results and offers a diagnosis and treatment options, says Dr. Roland.

In-lab sleep study

In the case of an in-lab sleep study, you’ll arrive at a sleep center in the evening and sleep there overnight. You’ll have removable sensors placed on different areas of your body. These will record your brain waves, heart rate, breathing effort and rate, oxygen levels, and muscle movements. 

In-lab sleep studies are considered the standard because they’re comprehensive and under the direct supervision of a technician. That said, testing away from home can be uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Wait times can also be a concern. Symptoms may get worse the longer you wait for your test and diagnosis.

Do you struggle with sleep problems? Book a telehealth appointment at Dreem Health. Our sleep providers can help you determine whether you have a sleep disorder and, if so, what to do about it.

The bottom line

Around 1 in 4 women have sleep apnea, but it’s often overlooked because many women’s symptoms don’t fit the stereotype. Sleep apnea symptoms in women are less likely to involve loud snoring and more likely to include mood changes, fatigue, headaches, and insomnia. The disorder can contribute to pregnancy complications and other health conditions. 

Luckily, women have several options for sleep testing. You may choose between in-lab testing or the comfort and convenience of at-home tests like those provided at Dreem Health.

In any case, finding out what’s going on with your sleep is the first step to improving your well-being and getting the rest you deserve.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Is sleep apnea during pregnancy dangerous?

Yes. Sleep apnea during pregnancy increases the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, low birth weight, and preterm birth. Those with sleep apnea during pregnancy may also be more likely to need a Cesarean section (C-section).

What's the difference between sleep apnea and insomnia?

Insomnia is a common symptom of sleep apnea, but the two aren’t the same. Sleep apnea involves breathing that stops and starts during sleep. Meanwhile, insomnia is when a person has trouble falling or staying asleep. You can have insomnia without having sleep apnea, and vice versa. 

Can sleep apnea go away on its own?

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition and typically doesn’t go away on its own. However, it’s manageable with treatment.

How can I tell if I have sleep apnea if I don't snore?

Consider whether you have other less commonly known symptoms of sleep apnea, such as persistent fatigue, insomnia, and cognitive symptoms. If you do, pursue a sleep test. This could be done in a lab or at home using a home sleep test like those provided at Dreem Health. The results should shed light on whether you have sleep apnea or your symptoms are more likely to be caused by another condition.