Men and women are equal in many things, and that includes snoring. Habitual snoring in women is not as unusual as you would think. There are women who snore as loud, if not louder than men. And perhaps, women deny it more, because it is very embarrassing for a woman, especially if the snoring is really so loud that other people are wakened by it. In a society where snoring has been considered a "man" thing, a woman who snores is probably in for a lot of criticism on the topic of unladylike behavior.

Many of the women who do snore are those who have hormonal imbalance, including women who have already gone through menopause. Thus, women from the ages of 50-60 years have a higher incidence of snoring. It has been determined by certain studies that the lower levels of estrogen and progesterone are somehow related to increase in snoring in the female population. These two female hormones have many important functions in a woman’s body, and this includes a protective effect on the muscles that keep the upper airway open.

The effects of habitual snoring include fatigue, stress and tension, lack of sleep (or even worse, insomnia), and headaches. And if the problem goes on and on, it can even possibly lead emotional problems such as major depression. If you are a woman who snores, you’re probably familiar with having feelings of embarrassment, especially if you are unaware of it and had just been told by your husband, partner, or roommate.

Other than hormonal imbalance, the other common causes of snoring in women are similar to the causes in men. And the same factors that increase the risk for snoring is the same across the sexes. For example, diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, has been found by research to be a risk factor in snoring. Another medical condition that has been shown to be related to snoring is hyperthyroidism, where snoring is just one sign of the problem. Obesity has also been related to snoring. Evidently, though not itself a medical condition, snoring can be a sign of another underlying, and at times more serious medical illness.

That is why snoring in women must not be taken lightly on any occasion. Aside for the social stigma and the negative effect on a woman’s relationships, snoring is an indicator of something awry in the person’s breathing and sleeping. Snoring is an indicator of non-optimal general health. Normally, breathing is a quiet process. When sound is heard when we breathe such as in persons with asthma and other lung conditions, it is a serious occurrence and must immediately be attended to. And since snoring occurs during sleeping, which is naturally a time of rest, the snorer must be concerned enough to seek help because it interferes with the natural cycle.

We recommend that natural remedies or stop snoring mouthpieces to be sought before you move on to more invasive procedures such as surgery for snoring. Non-surgical intervention or any other form of treatment should be considered only after seeing a specialist for a proper examination of signs and symptoms. Asking for expert opinion on the cause or causes of your snoring is the best first step in the process of being cured of the problem.