“More than 57% of women experience hot flushes and night sweats during menopause. They generally start in your chest area and spread to your upper chest, neck and face”.1
Umbrella
What may the Hot Flushes Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Hot Flash
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flush (HF)
- Hot Flushes
- Menopausal/Menopause Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
- Menopause-Related Hot Flashes/Hot Flushes
- Vasomotor Symptoms
- “Power Surges”
Vasomotor Symptoms
What are vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?
DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:
Hot Flush
What is a hot flush?
DotS the definition of a hot flush may vary. In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:
Hot Flash
What is a hot flash?
DotS the definition of a hot flash may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

Night Sweats
What are night sweats?
DotS the definition of night sweats may vary. In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic’s definition is:
Cause
What is the cause of hot flushes?
In Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats the JH note:
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. What Are Hot Flashes? What Causes Them To Happen? according to the NAMS:
Other Causes: Other Conditions
Apart from menopause, what are other causes of hot flushes?
In NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms) the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) explain causes can include:
- “Other conditions. Not all hot flushes are due to menopause. Other associated conditions include thyroid disease, diabetes, hyperhidrosis (a condition of excessive sweating which affects 1% of people), anxiety and panic disorders, obesity, hormonally active tumors, chronic infections and neurological disorders”.8
Other Causes: Medications
What medications can cause hot flushes?
According to the AMS:
- “Medications. Some medicines can cause hot flushes or make them worse. These include anti-oestrogens: tamoxifen , aromatase inhibitors, toremifene , raloxifene and clomiphene and the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues i.e. goserelin, leuprorelin and nafarelin1. Some non-hormonal treatments for hot flushes, such as venlafaxine, can also cause hot flushes at higher doses”.9
Common or Not
How common are hot flushes?
In the United States, according to the NAMS:
Impact
What impact may hot flushes have?
In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic note:
Heart Disease and Bone Loss
Is there an association between hot flushes, risk of heart disease and greater bone loss?
In Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications the Mayo Clinic also note:
Lifestyle Changes
What are some lifestyle changes to improve hot flushes?
In Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes the (United States) National Institute on Aging elaborate on:
- “Dress in layers that can be removed at the start of a hot flash
- Carry a portable fan to use when a hot flash strikes
- Avoid alcohol, spicy foods, and caffeine. These can make menopausal symptoms worse
- If you smoke, try to quit, not only for hot flashes, but for your overall health
- Try to maintain a healthy weight. Women who are overweight or obese may experience more frequent and severe hot flashes
- Explore mind-body practices. Some early-stage research has shown that hypnotherapy and mindfulness meditation could help with management of hot flashes”.13
Most Effective Treatment
Is menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) one of the most effective treatment for hot flushes?
On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use, published July 2022, which “simplifies the data in the new NAMS Position Statement for women trying to make decisions about using hormone therapy” the NAMS note:
In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
Medications such as antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs also might help reduce hot flashes, although they’re less effective than hormones”.15
Alternative Therapies
Do alternative therapies improve hot flushes?
In the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:
Stop
When do hot flushes stop?
In Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. How long will I have hot flashes? the NAMS explain:
“A. Most women experience hot flashes for 6 months to 2 years, although some reports suggest that they last considerably longer—as long as 10 years, depending on when they began. For a small proportion of women, they may never go away. It is not uncommon for women to experience a recurrence of hot flashes more than 10 years after menopause, even into their 70s or beyond. There is no reliable way of predicting when they will start—or stop”.17
Health Care Provider
What if I would like help with my hot flushes?
If you would like help with your hot flushes, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“Discuss the pros and cons of various treatments with your doctor. If hot flashes don’t interfere with your life, you probably don’t need treatment. Hot flashes subside gradually for most women, even without treatment, but it can take several years for them to stop”.18
In 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices. 4 the (United States) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health remind us:
“Tell all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care”.19
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Hot Flushes?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Hot Flushes?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
- Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Caffeine and Menopause Symptoms? Is There A Link?
- Certain Characteristics Predispose Women To Different Hot Flush and Night Sweat Patterns
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
- Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
- Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
- Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
- Gabapentin for Hot Flashes: What To Know
- HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
- HRT: Benefits and Risks
- Heart Palpitations
- Heart Palpitations
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
- Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
- How Does A Hot Flash Feel?
- How Long Will I Have Hot Flashes and What Causes Them?
- How To Find Relief for Hot Flashes At Night
- Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
- Learning To Cope With Hot Flashes
- Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
- Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
- Managing Menopausal Symptoms—Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Not the Only Option!
- Managing Your Symptoms: Managing Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
- Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy
- Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause Explained
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Are there treatments for hot flashes?
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. Is it safe to take dietary supplements or herbal therapies for my menopause symptoms?
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Mindfulness & Wellbeing During the Menopause Transition
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Symptoms and Relief
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
- Menopause: Medicines To Help You
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Chasteberry
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Red Clover
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
- Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
- Natural Therapies & Supplements
- Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
- Optimising the Menopause Transition: Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
- Perimenopause
- Perimenopause
- Physical Activity and Exercise for Hot Flashes: Trigger or Treatment?
- Phytoestrogens
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
- Supporting Women Through Menopause
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats
- The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
- The North American Menopause Society Releases Its 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Webinars: Previous – To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
- What Are Menopause Cold Flashes?
- What Can I Do To Help With Hot Flashes?
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What To Eat When You Have Hot Flashes?
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society http://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Symptoms of Menopause: Hot Flushes and Night Sweats. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms/ Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. What Are Hot Flashes? What Causes Them To Happen? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 06 February 2023
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 06 February 2023
- NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats (Vasomotor Symptoms). Content Updated September 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/600-nonhormonal-treatments-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/hot-flashes Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Symptoms & Causes – Complications. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? Lifestyle Changes To Improve Hot Flashes. Content Reviewed: 30 September 2021. National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hot-flashes-what-can-i-do Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Deciding About Hormone Therapy. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 10 June 2022:3-4. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes – Q. How long will I have hot flashes? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hot-flashes Accessed: 06 February 2023
- Hot Flashes: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 20 May 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352795 Accessed: 06 February 2023
- 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/tips/things-to-know-about-menopausal-symptoms-and-complementary-health-practices Accessed: 06 February 2023