Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is a Hot Flash?What Causes a Hot Flash?How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?Risk FactorsManaging Hot FlashesWhen to See Your DoctorMedicationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is a Hot Flash?
What Causes a Hot Flash?
How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?
Risk Factors
Managing Hot Flashes
When to See Your Doctor
Medications
Frequently Asked Questions
More than 80% of people get hot flashes at some point before or after menopause.Changing hormones are believed to be the cause of hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, including anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, and trouble with memory.
For some people, these symptoms, including hot flashes, may linger aftermenopause. Here’s what you should know about experiencing hot flashes after menopause, including possible causes and when you should talk to your doctor.
A hot flash is a sudden sensation of warmth in the upper body. It’s typically felt on the face, neck, and chest. A person’s face may appear red during a hot flash, and they may sweat and feel anxious.
Hot flashes are temporary, generally lasting from one to five minutes.
Hot flashes can occur both day and night. “Night sweats” is the term used to describe nighttime hot flashes, which can disrupt sleep.
Some people only experience occasional hot flashes, while others have them frequently throughout the day. Even though hot flashes are a normal response to the changes occurring in the body, they can be uncomfortable and unsettling.
What Causes Hot Flashes?
Symptoms that can occur with hot flashes include:
Hot flashes occur when estrogen levels in the body drop. Estrogen is a hormone that is responsible for the regulation of the reproductive system in people with a uterus.
Falling estrogen levels affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite, body temperature, hormones, and sleep patterns. The hypothalamus is sometimes called the body’s thermostat because of the role it plays in regulating body temperature.
A drop in estrogen levels can cause the hypothalamus to get mixed signals. If it senses that the body is “too warm,” it prompts a chain of events to cool the body down: The blood vessels dilate, blood flow is increased to the surface of the skin, and heart rate may increase as the body tries to cool off. Some people experience a chilled feeling after a hot flash.
Why Menopause Is Different for Everyone
Other things that can cause hot flashes include:
The intensity and frequency of hot flashes vary. Some people experience them multiple times a day, and others will only have the occasional hot flash. Hot flash episodes usually last anywhere from one to five minutes at a time.
On average, hot flash symptoms last for seven or more years before and after menopause, though some people may have them for 10 years or longer.
The time at which you first start having hot flashes may indicate how long you’ll get them. For example, research has found that people who had hot flashes before menopause experienced them for nearly 12 years, compared to people who had their first hot flash after menopause, who experienced them for three years, on average.
Can hot flashes continue after menopause?Yes. Hot flashes tend to slowly decrease after menopause, though some people continue to experience them up to 10 or more years after menopause.
Can hot flashes continue after menopause?
Yes. Hot flashes tend to slowly decrease after menopause, though some people continue to experience them up to 10 or more years after menopause.
Some people do not experience hot flashes as part of the menopause transition, but there are some things that might make a person more likely to get them.
Factors that might increase your chances of having hot flashes include:
Are You in Perimenopause?
You might be able to manage your hot flash symptoms with some simple home remedies. Here are a few things you can try:
How to Relieve Hot Flashes During Menopause
While hot flashes are common during menopause, some people get them intensely and often. In some cases, hot flashes are disruptive to a person’s life and can greatly affect their well-being.
If your hot flashes are interfering with your day-to-day life or preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep, talk to your doctor. There are some treatments that you might be able to try that can help control hot flashes.
If lifestyle changes and home remedies do not give you relief from hot flashes, your doctor may prescribe medication to help.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses medications that contain synthetic hormones to help replace the sex hormones that the body stops making after menopause.
Estrogen is most often prescribed, but if you still have a uterus, your doctor will likely also prescribe progesterone to protect against endometrial cancer (which is associated with using only estrogen therapy).
The time that you will need to use HRT will depend on how intense your symptoms are and how long they last.
How HRT Works
Antidepressants
Low doses of antidepressant medications may help reduce symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. Though these generally are not as effective as hormone replacement therapy, they are an option for people who are unable to take HRT medications.
However, other antidepressants have been shown to be moderately effective at reducing symptoms, including paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), and venlafaxine (Effexor).
A clinical trial in 2014 found that a low dose of Effexor worked almost as well as hormone replacement therapy for reducing hot flashes.
Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives, or birth control, contain combinations of estrogen and progesterone. Though menopause marks the end of a person’s childbearing years, birth control can be prescribed to help regulate hormones and reduce hot flashes and night sweats.
These medications are often prescribed before menopause (perimenopause) when your periods are irregular and you might first start experiencing menopause symptoms.
Research suggests that these medications may improve menstrual irregularity andvasomotor symptoms(which include hot flashes) of menopause.
Can You Use Birth Control After Age 40?
Other Medications
There are also other types of medications that might help with hot flashes.Your doctor might also consider prescribing:
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If your doctor prescribes medications to help manage your hot flashes, take them exactly as instructed. If you get side effects, do not stop taking your medication until you have talked to your doctor.
When do hot flashes stop after menopause?
Many people experience hot flashes for years after their final menstrual cycle. Hot flashes last for seven years after menopause, on average, though some people have them for 10 years or more.
Can you still get hot flashes years after menopause?
Yes. Hot flashes are common after menopause and may continue for 10 years or more after your last menstrual period.
Symptoms of Menopause
What causes hot flashes well after menopause?
What causes night sweats years after menopause?
People sometimes continue to have nighttime hot flashes, known as “night sweats,” well after menopause. A decrease in estrogen levels is the primary cause of night sweats after menopause.
How soon do hot flashes start after surgical menopause?
What Is Medical Menopause?
A Word From Verywell
Menopause is a time of major change and transition in a person’s life. The shift in hormone levels can cause unsettling symptoms like hot flashes that can affect your physical and mental well-being.
While hot flashes are common for people as they go through the menopause transition—and even after—the symptom can be disrupting. If you are having hot flashes that interfere with your ability to get restful sleep and are affecting your daily activities, talk to your doctor.
There are some home remedies, like keeping your home cool and avoiding foods or drinks that trigger hot flashes, that might help. If these changes are not enough, your doctor might be able to prescribe medication to help ease your hot flashes.
11 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.Bansal R, Aggarwal N.Menopausal hot flashes: a concise review.J Midlife Health. 2019;10(1):6-13. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_7_19Mayo Clinic.Hot flashes: symptoms and causes.Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al.Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition.JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531-539. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Sanders RJ.Risk of long-term hot flashes after natural menopause: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study cohort.Menopause. 2014;21(9):924-932. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000196Mehrpooya M, Rabiee S, Larki-Harchegani A, et al.A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes.J Educ Health Promot. 2018 Mar 1;7:36. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_81_17Chu G.A case of herbal medicine as alternative therapy for menopausal hot flashes.Proc UCLA Health.2019:23.Sung M-K, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang H-J.A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: a pilot cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(36):e22048. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022048Carlson Kehren H.Mindfulness may ease menopause symptoms. Mayo Clinic News Network.Joffe H, Guthrie KA, LaCroix AZ, et al.Low-dose estradiol and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(7):1058-1066. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1891Cho MK.Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women.Chonnam Med J. 2018;54(3):153-158. doi:10.4068/cmj.2018.54.3.153Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.
11 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.Bansal R, Aggarwal N.Menopausal hot flashes: a concise review.J Midlife Health. 2019;10(1):6-13. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_7_19Mayo Clinic.Hot flashes: symptoms and causes.Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al.Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition.JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531-539. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Sanders RJ.Risk of long-term hot flashes after natural menopause: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study cohort.Menopause. 2014;21(9):924-932. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000196Mehrpooya M, Rabiee S, Larki-Harchegani A, et al.A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes.J Educ Health Promot. 2018 Mar 1;7:36. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_81_17Chu G.A case of herbal medicine as alternative therapy for menopausal hot flashes.Proc UCLA Health.2019:23.Sung M-K, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang H-J.A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: a pilot cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(36):e22048. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022048Carlson Kehren H.Mindfulness may ease menopause symptoms. Mayo Clinic News Network.Joffe H, Guthrie KA, LaCroix AZ, et al.Low-dose estradiol and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(7):1058-1066. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1891Cho MK.Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women.Chonnam Med J. 2018;54(3):153-158. doi:10.4068/cmj.2018.54.3.153Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.
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.
Bansal R, Aggarwal N.Menopausal hot flashes: a concise review.J Midlife Health. 2019;10(1):6-13. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_7_19Mayo Clinic.Hot flashes: symptoms and causes.Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al.Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition.JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531-539. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Sanders RJ.Risk of long-term hot flashes after natural menopause: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study cohort.Menopause. 2014;21(9):924-932. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000196Mehrpooya M, Rabiee S, Larki-Harchegani A, et al.A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes.J Educ Health Promot. 2018 Mar 1;7:36. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_81_17Chu G.A case of herbal medicine as alternative therapy for menopausal hot flashes.Proc UCLA Health.2019:23.Sung M-K, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang H-J.A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: a pilot cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(36):e22048. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022048Carlson Kehren H.Mindfulness may ease menopause symptoms. Mayo Clinic News Network.Joffe H, Guthrie KA, LaCroix AZ, et al.Low-dose estradiol and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(7):1058-1066. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1891Cho MK.Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women.Chonnam Med J. 2018;54(3):153-158. doi:10.4068/cmj.2018.54.3.153Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.
Bansal R, Aggarwal N.Menopausal hot flashes: a concise review.J Midlife Health. 2019;10(1):6-13. doi:10.4103/jmh.JMH_7_19
Mayo Clinic.Hot flashes: symptoms and causes.
Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al.Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition.JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):531-539. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8063
Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Sanders RJ.Risk of long-term hot flashes after natural menopause: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Study cohort.Menopause. 2014;21(9):924-932. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000196
Mehrpooya M, Rabiee S, Larki-Harchegani A, et al.A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes.J Educ Health Promot. 2018 Mar 1;7:36. doi:10.4103/jehp.jehp_81_17
Chu G.A case of herbal medicine as alternative therapy for menopausal hot flashes.Proc UCLA Health.2019:23.
Sung M-K, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang H-J.A potential association of meditation with menopausal symptoms and blood chemistry in healthy women: a pilot cross-sectional study.Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99(36):e22048. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000022048
Carlson Kehren H.Mindfulness may ease menopause symptoms. Mayo Clinic News Network.
Joffe H, Guthrie KA, LaCroix AZ, et al.Low-dose estradiol and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine for vasomotor symptoms: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(7):1058-1066. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1891
Cho MK.Use of combined oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women.Chonnam Med J. 2018;54(3):153-158. doi:10.4068/cmj.2018.54.3.153
Food and Drug Administration.Veozah label.
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