Table of ContentsView AllTable of Contents20 ReasonsCausesTreatmentImproving FatigueSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
20 Reasons
Causes
Treatment
Improving Fatigue
Seeking Medical Care
Femalefatigueis sometimes related to the hormonal changes ofperiods, pregnancy, andperimenopause. Females are also more likely to develop certain health conditions linked to fatigue, such aschronic fatigue syndromeandmultiple sclerosis(MS).
Some of your daily medications can cause fatigue, or you may be burned out from juggling too many responsibilities and not having adequate sleep.
This article lists some common causes of female fatigue with tips on how to boost energy.
Kseniya Ovchinnikova/ Getty Images
20 Reasons for Female Fatigue and Low Energy
Female fatigue and low energy are common. It can happen for many reasons, from lifestyle factors to medical conditions.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemiameans your body lacks the iron to make enough healthy red blood cells. It can happen due to different reasons including your type of diet,heavy menstruation, or certain medical conditions.Females who menstruate or are pregnant need more ironthan others.
Thyroid Problems
Fatiguecan be a symptom ofhypothyroidism(underactive thyroid) orhyperthyroidism(overactive thyroid). It’s also a symptom of thyroid diseases likeHashimoto’sandGraves’diseases.Thyroid conditions tend to affect women more than men, with 1 in 8 women developing a thyroid problem, particularly following pregnancy andmenopause.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the top cause of death in women in the United States.Heart disease symptomsin women aren’t always the same as in men, and some are less obvious. Fatigue can be a symptom of heart disease or heart attack.
COPD
About half of people withchronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) have severe fatigue.COPD is a lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. In the United States, more women than men are living with COPD.
PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting up to 13% of women of reproductive age. And women with PCOS are more likely to feel fatigued or have sleep disorders than women without PCOS.
Endometriosis or Adenomyosis
Endometriosis andadenomyosisare gynecologic conditions that are associated with fatigue. In endometriosis, uterine lining-like tissue grows outside the uterus. In adenomyosis, the uterus lining-like tissue grows into the uterine walls.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies, such as iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, can contribute to fatigue.For example, fatigue is a symptom ofanemia, which can happen if you have an iron deficiency.
Not Enough Exercise
Asedentary lifestylewill likely make you feel more tired than rested. Research suggests that regular physical activity is associated with higher energy levels and lower fatigue levels in women.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol during the day can make you drowsy. And while it might help you go to sleep at night, it also interferes with quality sleep, which can lead to fatigue.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apneais a condition in which you pause breathing while you sleep. You may think you sleep all night, but it’s not quality sleep. Besides fatigue, you may also experience dry throat, trouble concentrating, or mood changes.
Insomnia
Insomniainvolves trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early. You might develop insomnia because you have too much on your mind or work a night shift. Or it can be related to a condition that interferes with sleep, such asrestless legs syndrome.
Depression
Over 90% of people withmajor depressive disorderreport also having fatigue.Other symptoms of depression include persistent sadness or emptiness, unexplained aches and pains, and a lack of interest in things you used to enjoy.
Stress and Anxiety
Stressandanxietyare physically and mentally exhausting. Your fatigue could result from excess unhealthy stress and excessive worry or too many responsibilities.
Hormonal Fluctuations
Naturalhormonal fluctuationsoccur throughout a woman’s life. Hormones rise and fall with puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause. Evidence suggests thatestrogenand progesterone directly impact a woman’s sleep cycle.
Painful Bladder Syndrome
Anyone can get painful bladder syndrome, which is also calledinterstitial cystitis. But it’s more common among women than men.Because you might have to wake up often during the night to urinate, it can lead to fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndromeis a long-term illness more common among women than men.The main symptom is debilitating fatigue, making it difficult to perform daily tasks or normal functions.
MS
Fatigue is a common symptom ofmultiple sclerosis(MS). It’s the primary central nervous system disease of young adults, about 75% of whom are female.The rate of sleep disorders among people with MS is 3 to 5 times higher than in the general population.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgiais a chronic disorder that affects women more than men, and the risk grows with age.In addition to fatigue, you might have sleep problems and a heightened sensitivity to pain.
Lupus
Lupusis an autoimmune condition that affects women nine times more often than men.Aside from fatigue and tiredness, symptoms may include a butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks.
Medications
Fatigue can be a side effect of certain medications, especially those you take daily. Some drugs that can lead to fatigue are:
What Causes Sudden Fatigue in Females?
Burnout fatigue happens when you have more responsibilities than you can handle at work, home, or both. Research suggests that, on average, women’s involvement in household chores is more than double that of their male partners.
There’s alsocaregiver burnout. Caregiving is an ongoing task that can take a physical and mental toll. Most caregivers are women. And nearly 3 in 5 women also have jobs.
Sudden fatigue can also be a sign ofperimenopause. You may not make the connection right away because the age of perimenopause varies. Symptoms start, on average, around age 47, and many women begin to notice sleep changes in their 40s.
Other things that can cause sudden fatigue are:
What to Do When You’re Overly Fatigued
If you can’t take a nap or call it a day, try these quick tips for shaking off fatigue:
How to Improve Fatigue on Your Own
How to Increase Stamina and Get More Energy
Turning to a Provider for Fatigue Treatment
If you have unexplained fatigue lasting over a few weeks, see a healthcare professional to find out why. Once you have a diagnosis, managing the condition may resolve the fatigue. If not, your provider can recommend the next steps. If you think fatigue is linked to an emotional or mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, it may help to see a therapist.
Summary
There are many potential reasons for female fatigue, from lack of sleep to burnout to chronic illness. There are some things you can do on your own to combat fatigue. But fatigue can signal an underlying health condition, so seeing a healthcare provider is important. Learning the cause can help find the solution and improve the overall quality of life.
23 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Fischer S, Markert C, Strahler J, et al.Thyroid functioning and fatigue in women with functional somatic syndromes – role of early life adversity.Front Physiol.2018;9:564. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00564Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid disease.MedlinePlus.Heart disease in women.Goërtz YMJ, Spruit MA, Van ‘t Hul AJ, et al.Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with COPD and correlates poorly with the degree of airflow limitation.Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2019;13:175346661987812. doi:10.1177/1753466619878128Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About COPD.Ee C, Pirotta S, Mousa A, Moran L, Lim S.Providing lifestyle advice to women with PCOS: an overview of practical issues affecting success.BMC Endocr Disord. 2021;21:234. doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00890-8Ellingson LD, Kuffel AE, Vack NJ, Cook DB.Active and sedentary behaviors influence feelings of energy and fatigue in women.Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2014;46(1):192. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a036abPark SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015 Nov;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Society for Women’s Health Research.Women & sleep apnea.Dorsey A, de Lecea L, Jennings KJ.Neurobiological and hormonal mechanisms regulating women’s sleep.Front Neurosci. 2021;14:625397. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.625397Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zAmerican Psychological Association.What’s the difference between stress and anxiety?.National Health Service U.K.Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Coyle PK.What can we learn from sex differences in MS?J Pers Med. 2021;11(10):1006. doi:10.3390/jpm11101006Drerup M, Roth A, Kane A, Sullivan AB.Therapeutic approaches to insomnia and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:201-207. doi:10.2147/NSS.S256676National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Fibromyalgia.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Cerrato J, Cifre E.Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict.Front Psychol. 2018;9:384557. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01330Office on Women’s Health.Caregiver stress.Santoro N.Perimenopause: From research to practice.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-9. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556National Health Service U.K.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.Additional ReadingAdditional reading: Harvard Health.What to do when medication makes you sleepy.Harvard Health.Alcohol and fatigue.Harvard Health.Could a vitamin or mineral deficiency be behind your fatigue?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Always Tired? You may have sleep apnea.
23 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Fischer S, Markert C, Strahler J, et al.Thyroid functioning and fatigue in women with functional somatic syndromes – role of early life adversity.Front Physiol.2018;9:564. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00564Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid disease.MedlinePlus.Heart disease in women.Goërtz YMJ, Spruit MA, Van ‘t Hul AJ, et al.Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with COPD and correlates poorly with the degree of airflow limitation.Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2019;13:175346661987812. doi:10.1177/1753466619878128Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About COPD.Ee C, Pirotta S, Mousa A, Moran L, Lim S.Providing lifestyle advice to women with PCOS: an overview of practical issues affecting success.BMC Endocr Disord. 2021;21:234. doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00890-8Ellingson LD, Kuffel AE, Vack NJ, Cook DB.Active and sedentary behaviors influence feelings of energy and fatigue in women.Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2014;46(1):192. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a036abPark SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015 Nov;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Society for Women’s Health Research.Women & sleep apnea.Dorsey A, de Lecea L, Jennings KJ.Neurobiological and hormonal mechanisms regulating women’s sleep.Front Neurosci. 2021;14:625397. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.625397Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zAmerican Psychological Association.What’s the difference between stress and anxiety?.National Health Service U.K.Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Coyle PK.What can we learn from sex differences in MS?J Pers Med. 2021;11(10):1006. doi:10.3390/jpm11101006Drerup M, Roth A, Kane A, Sullivan AB.Therapeutic approaches to insomnia and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:201-207. doi:10.2147/NSS.S256676National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Fibromyalgia.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Cerrato J, Cifre E.Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict.Front Psychol. 2018;9:384557. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01330Office on Women’s Health.Caregiver stress.Santoro N.Perimenopause: From research to practice.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-9. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556National Health Service U.K.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.Additional ReadingAdditional reading: Harvard Health.What to do when medication makes you sleepy.Harvard Health.Alcohol and fatigue.Harvard Health.Could a vitamin or mineral deficiency be behind your fatigue?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Always Tired? You may have sleep apnea.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Fischer S, Markert C, Strahler J, et al.Thyroid functioning and fatigue in women with functional somatic syndromes – role of early life adversity.Front Physiol.2018;9:564. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00564Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid disease.MedlinePlus.Heart disease in women.Goërtz YMJ, Spruit MA, Van ‘t Hul AJ, et al.Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with COPD and correlates poorly with the degree of airflow limitation.Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2019;13:175346661987812. doi:10.1177/1753466619878128Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About COPD.Ee C, Pirotta S, Mousa A, Moran L, Lim S.Providing lifestyle advice to women with PCOS: an overview of practical issues affecting success.BMC Endocr Disord. 2021;21:234. doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00890-8Ellingson LD, Kuffel AE, Vack NJ, Cook DB.Active and sedentary behaviors influence feelings of energy and fatigue in women.Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2014;46(1):192. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a036abPark SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015 Nov;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294Society for Women’s Health Research.Women & sleep apnea.Dorsey A, de Lecea L, Jennings KJ.Neurobiological and hormonal mechanisms regulating women’s sleep.Front Neurosci. 2021;14:625397. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.625397Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-zAmerican Psychological Association.What’s the difference between stress and anxiety?.National Health Service U.K.Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.Coyle PK.What can we learn from sex differences in MS?J Pers Med. 2021;11(10):1006. doi:10.3390/jpm11101006Drerup M, Roth A, Kane A, Sullivan AB.Therapeutic approaches to insomnia and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:201-207. doi:10.2147/NSS.S256676National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Fibromyalgia.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.Cerrato J, Cifre E.Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict.Front Psychol. 2018;9:384557. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01330Office on Women’s Health.Caregiver stress.Santoro N.Perimenopause: From research to practice.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-9. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556National Health Service U.K.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Fischer S, Markert C, Strahler J, et al.Thyroid functioning and fatigue in women with functional somatic syndromes – role of early life adversity.Front Physiol.2018;9:564. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00564
Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid disease.
MedlinePlus.Heart disease in women.
Goërtz YMJ, Spruit MA, Van ‘t Hul AJ, et al.Fatigue is highly prevalent in patients with COPD and correlates poorly with the degree of airflow limitation.Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2019;13:175346661987812. doi:10.1177/1753466619878128
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About COPD.
Ee C, Pirotta S, Mousa A, Moran L, Lim S.Providing lifestyle advice to women with PCOS: an overview of practical issues affecting success.BMC Endocr Disord. 2021;21:234. doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00890-8
Ellingson LD, Kuffel AE, Vack NJ, Cook DB.Active and sedentary behaviors influence feelings of energy and fatigue in women.Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2014;46(1):192. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a036ab
Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015 Nov;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294
Society for Women’s Health Research.Women & sleep apnea.
Dorsey A, de Lecea L, Jennings KJ.Neurobiological and hormonal mechanisms regulating women’s sleep.Front Neurosci. 2021;14:625397. doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.625397
Ghanean H, Ceniti AK, Kennedy SH.Fatigue in patients with major depressive disorder: prevalence, burden and pharmacological approaches to management.CNS Drugs. 2018;32(1):65-74. doi:10.1007/s40263-018-0490-z
American Psychological Association.What’s the difference between stress and anxiety?.
National Health Service U.K.Bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Coyle PK.What can we learn from sex differences in MS?J Pers Med. 2021;11(10):1006. doi:10.3390/jpm11101006
Drerup M, Roth A, Kane A, Sullivan AB.Therapeutic approaches to insomnia and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:201-207. doi:10.2147/NSS.S256676
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Fibromyalgia.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Lupus.
Cerrato J, Cifre E.Gender inequality in household chores and work-family conflict.Front Psychol. 2018;9:384557. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01330
Office on Women’s Health.Caregiver stress.
Santoro N.Perimenopause: From research to practice.J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(4):332-9. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5556
National Health Service U.K.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.
Additional reading: Harvard Health.What to do when medication makes you sleepy.Harvard Health.Alcohol and fatigue.Harvard Health.Could a vitamin or mineral deficiency be behind your fatigue?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Always Tired? You may have sleep apnea.
Additional reading: Harvard Health.What to do when medication makes you sleepy.
Harvard Health.Alcohol and fatigue.
Harvard Health.Could a vitamin or mineral deficiency be behind your fatigue?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomyosis.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Always Tired? You may have sleep apnea.
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