Hi Kim,
Yes, menopause can, and does, for many women cause insomnia.
If your dr has no objection, you could try taking some phytoestrogens - herbal hormone replacers. Many drugstores and department stores carry an over-the-counter preparation called Estroven - made with soy and black cohosh. (Ok to try if you are already used to eating soy products - otherwise I would stay away from soy totally, as sudden introduction of large amts of soy to the diet may actually produce an increased cancer risk.) Most herb shops and natural foods stores sell herbal menopause products that do not contain soy - both in encapsulated and cream form. They might be worth trying.
Yams/sweet potatos are very high in phytoestrogens and can be consumed to help decrease hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, etc. THey are also a nutritious food with some cancer fighting properties, so eating them a couple of times a week is a good two-fer. Flax seed and flax oil are high in phytoestrogens (a very small amount ingested everyday will act as an estrogen blocker, whereas larger amts will act as estrogen replacers. 1 - 2 Tbsp ground flax seed sprinkled on food or in cottage cheese, or 1 Tbsp organic flax oil with lignans mixed with yogurt or cottage cheese everyday should be sufficient. This is also a major cancer fighter - do a websearch on the Budwig diet for more information.)
Flax oil also works very well if you start to have problems with vaginal dryness - mix a 1/4 tsp of the oil with enough vaseline so that it's not runny, and apply to delicate tissues as needed. This mixture can be kept safely in a closed container (unrefrigerated) for 7 - 10 days before going rancid, and contains little enough phytoestrogen that it is safe to use even with estrogen-positive cancers.
There are many other foods and herbs that are high in phytoestrogen content - a web search should bring up a whole host of things that might help.
If your dr does NOT want you to use natural hormone replacement (as it is contraindicated with some female reproductive cancers) there are other natural alternatives to try. Camomile tea is a very mild option, but can be very effective when combined with use night-time of a light-weight eye-mask filled with dried lavendar, or a potpourri jar of lavendar on the bed side table. Melatonin, St Johns Wort, Valerian are very effective and can all be purchased over the counter at drugstores, grocery stores and natural food stores or herb shops. Take according to the label directions - start with the smallest amounts first, then increase if it seems to help but just not sufficient for what you need. These three can be taken in combination also, but I would start with just one first to determine how well you tolerate it and how effective it is, then add the others one at a time as needed. (Many women report very vivid dreaming with these supplements.)
Some women even find relief by taking 2 extra-strength tylenol with 25 mg of benedryl a half hour before bedtime. (Ibuprofen or Allieve might work, also, instead of the tylenol, but should be used with caution as they can be hard on the stomach, especially when taken without food at bedtime.)
If these options do not work for you, talk to a naturopathic or holistic practitioner, or an herbalist of good repute. There are other herbs that are effective to induce sleep - hops, skullcap, and some others - but these herbs can be quite bitter and you would likely need to talk with someone fairly knowledgable about combining them with something more palatable before trying them.
Sincerely,
Tre