“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes
and night sweats, common symptoms during
perimenopause and early postmenopause”.1

Umbrella

What may the Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Hot Flashes/Flushes
  • Night Sweats
  • Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS)

Vasomotor Symptoms

What are vasomotor symptoms (VMS)?

DotS the definition of VMS may vary. The North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.2

Common or Not

How common are VMS?

In Menopause: Hot Flashes the (United States) Endocrine Society elaborate on:

Vasomotor Symptoms“Hot flashes also known as vasomotor symptoms are extremely common, affecting approximately 75% of women as they go through menopause. Symptoms can begin during the perimenopausal transition and last from a few years to over 10 years. When moderate to severe, they can have a significant impact on quality of life, especially due to the associated sleep disturbances. These sleep disturbances may affect energy, mood and metabolism”.3

Stop

When do VMS stop?

In Hot Flashes: Symptoms and Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic NAMS explain:

“On average, hot flash symptoms persist for more than seven years. Some women have them for more than 10 years”.4

Healthy Lifestyle

Can a healthy lifestyle lifestyle improve VMS?

On page one 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, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

  • “Women should be advised that implementing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve menopause symptoms. A healthy diet (one low in saturated fat and salt and rich in calcium and vitamin D), stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and including regular exercise can be beneficial. Reducing caffeine intake may also improve symptoms.
  • Alternative therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy, may also improve hot flushes, nights sweats and other menopausal symptoms and can be considered in women who do not wish to take HRT or have contraindications to taking HRT”.5

Hormone Therapy

How effective is hormone therapy (HT) for the treatment of VMS?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits, published July 2022, the NAMS explain:

“Hormone therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. If hot flashes and night sweats are disrupting your daily activities and sleep, HT may improve sleep and fatigue, mood, ability to concentrate, and overall quality of life. Treatment of bothersome hot flashes and night sweats is the principal reason women use HT”.6

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have VMS?

On page two in 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, first published 10 June 2022, Hamoda et al. elaborate on:

“Women should be able to seek advice and evidence-based information on how to optimise their menopausal transition and the years beyond. It is important to look not only at the role of HRT when discussing the menopause with women but also to offer advice regarding lifestyle and diet modifications such as exercise, optimising weight, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their management options including HRT and alternative therapies”.7

Health Topics A-Z

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Links

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Menopause Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary Accessed: 11 May 2024
  2. Menopause Glossary: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-glossary Accessed: 11 May 2024
  3. Menopause: Hot Flashes. Last Updated: 24 January 2022. Endocrine Society https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/menopause Accessed: 11 May 2024
  4. Hot Flashes: Symptoms and Causes – Overview. 12 December 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/symptoms-causes/syc-20352790 Accessed: 11 May 2024
  5. 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: 11 May 2024
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Benefits. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 11 May 2024
  7. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayasena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. 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. First Published 10 June 2022:1 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20533691221104882 Accessed: 11 May 2024
Topic Last Updated: 30 August 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 May 2024