Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
This article is part ofHealth Divide: Menopause and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series.
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) includehot flashes and night sweats. These symptoms are prevalent duringperimenopause(the time leading up to menopause) andmenopause(having no period for 12 straight months). They are the most common symptom people seek treatment for during menopause.
VMS affects as many as 75% of North Americans going through perimenopause, and about 25% of them seek medical treatment for their symptoms.But these symptoms affect people differently and in different frequencies. For example, Black people are more likely to experience them than White people.
This article discusses vasomotor symptoms during menopause.
FG Trade/ Getty Images
Vasomotor Symptoms and Black PeopleDecades of research have found that Black people approaching menopause experience vasomotor symptoms at a rate of 46% compared to 37% of White people.They are also less likely to receive hormone therapy or medical or mental health services.
Vasomotor Symptoms and Black People
Decades of research have found that Black people approaching menopause experience vasomotor symptoms at a rate of 46% compared to 37% of White people.They are also less likely to receive hormone therapy or medical or mental health services.
Vasomotor Symptoms: Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashescan occur for different reasons, including when your body experiences changes in hormone levels, which is why they are so common during menopause and the years leading up to menopause.
Hot flashes come on suddenly and last for a brief period, usually just a few minutes. During a hot flash, you may experience a sudden (and often overwhelming) sensation of warmth, skin flushing, and sweating.
With night sweats, you may perspire profusely to the point of which your bed linens are soaked, and you need to change your clothes.
What Causes Vasomotor Symptoms?
Hormonal fluctuations(changes) cause menopausal vasomotor symptoms. By way of a normal, physiologic process, the ovaries stop functioning as they used to before menopause, and your body makes lessestrogenandprogesterone. Experts believe these declining hormones are responsible for VMS during menopause.
Vasomotor Symptoms Risk Factors
Researchers have found several factors that place people at risk for menopausal vasomotor symptoms, including:
However, higher estradiol (the primary form of estrogen in your body during childbearing years) and progesterone levels were associated with a lower risk of hot flashes.
The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiracial and multiethnic study, found that ethnicity affects many outcomes. In one study, the duration of hot flashes varied as follows:4.8 years for people of Japanese descent5.4 years for people of Chinese descent6.5 years for non-Hispanic White people8.9 years for Hispanic people10.1 years for Black people
The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiracial and multiethnic study, found that ethnicity affects many outcomes. In one study, the duration of hot flashes varied as follows:
How Are Vasomotor Symptoms Treated?
Vasomotor symptom treatment includes hormone therapy, medications, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, and lifestyle changes.
Hormone Therapy
The goal ofhormone therapyis to reduce VMS. Hormones also effectively reducevaginal dryness,insomnia, andbone density. Hormone therapy may be estrogen-only or estrogen and progesterone. Systemic (in the bloodstream) estrogen therapy is most effective for hot flashes.
Hormone therapy may come in the following forms:
While hormone therapy is effective, it comes with risks and isn’t for everyone. Estrogen-only therapy is associated with a higher risk ofendometrial cancerand therefore is not recommended for women with a uterus. Combined hormone therapy slightly increases therisk of breast cancerbut decreases the risk ofcolon cancer.
Hormone therapy also increases the risk of a heart attack in older people. In addition, it slightly increases therisk of stroke,blood clots, andgallbladder disease.
Medications
Some nonhormonal medications can also reduce hot flashes, including:
Nonhormonal medication may be a good alternative to hormone therapy for those at higher risk.
Alternative Treatments
Alternative treatments often have limited evidence to support their use. However, some people prefer to try less-invasive treatments first. Alternative therapies for VMS include:
One study found that acupuncture improved menopausal hot flashes when compared to no treatment but not compared to sham acupuncture, suggesting a placebo effect.
Another study found that mind-body care, like meditation, can ease menopausal symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Some lifestyle changes can help you manage vasomotor symptoms. These include:
For night sweats, keep your bedding layered so it’s easy to remove or add warmth. You can also turn down your thermostat at night, open a window, and keep a fan on. Keeping a change of clothes beside your bed may also help if you get too sweaty.
Can Vasomotor Symptoms Be Prevented?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to prevent menopausal vasomotor symptoms. However, if you begin to have hot flashes or night sweats, treatment methods can reduce the frequency of the symptoms and sometimes eliminate them.
Summary
Vasomotor symptoms during menopause include hot flashes and night sweats. They are prevalent, affecting the majority of people who go through menopause. Smoking, having excess weight, depression, older age, and being in perimenopause increase the risk of experiencing VMS. Treatments include hormones, nonhormonal medication, alternative therapies like meditation and relaxation, and lifestyle changes.
12 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.North American Menopause Society.Menopause FAQs: Hot flashes.Miller SR, Gallicchio LM, Lewis LM, et al.Association between race and hot flashes in midlife women. Maturitas. 2006 Jun 20;54(3):260-9. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.12.001University of Michigan.25 years of research shows insidious effect of racism on Black women’s menopausal transition, health.University of Washington Medicine.What happens to your body during a hot flash?.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?.Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Kiefer J, et al.Risk factors for hot flashes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: baseline results from the Midlife Women’s Health Study.Menopause. 2015;22(10):1098-1107. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000434Avis 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.2014.8063American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause: Frequently asked questions.UpToDate.Patient education: non-estrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms.Ee C, French SD, Xue CC, Pirotta M, Teede H.Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: clinical evidence update and its relevance to decision making.Menopause. 2017;24(8):980-987. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000850Avis NE, Legault C, Russell G, Weaver K, Danhauer SC.Pilot study of integral yoga for menopausal hot flashes.Menopause. 2014;21(8):846-854. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000191Sung MK, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang HJ.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
12 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.North American Menopause Society.Menopause FAQs: Hot flashes.Miller SR, Gallicchio LM, Lewis LM, et al.Association between race and hot flashes in midlife women. Maturitas. 2006 Jun 20;54(3):260-9. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.12.001University of Michigan.25 years of research shows insidious effect of racism on Black women’s menopausal transition, health.University of Washington Medicine.What happens to your body during a hot flash?.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?.Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Kiefer J, et al.Risk factors for hot flashes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: baseline results from the Midlife Women’s Health Study.Menopause. 2015;22(10):1098-1107. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000434Avis 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.2014.8063American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause: Frequently asked questions.UpToDate.Patient education: non-estrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms.Ee C, French SD, Xue CC, Pirotta M, Teede H.Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: clinical evidence update and its relevance to decision making.Menopause. 2017;24(8):980-987. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000850Avis NE, Legault C, Russell G, Weaver K, Danhauer SC.Pilot study of integral yoga for menopausal hot flashes.Menopause. 2014;21(8):846-854. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000191Sung MK, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang HJ.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
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.
North American Menopause Society.Menopause FAQs: Hot flashes.Miller SR, Gallicchio LM, Lewis LM, et al.Association between race and hot flashes in midlife women. Maturitas. 2006 Jun 20;54(3):260-9. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.12.001University of Michigan.25 years of research shows insidious effect of racism on Black women’s menopausal transition, health.University of Washington Medicine.What happens to your body during a hot flash?.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?.Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Kiefer J, et al.Risk factors for hot flashes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: baseline results from the Midlife Women’s Health Study.Menopause. 2015;22(10):1098-1107. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000434Avis 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.2014.8063American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause: Frequently asked questions.UpToDate.Patient education: non-estrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms.Ee C, French SD, Xue CC, Pirotta M, Teede H.Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: clinical evidence update and its relevance to decision making.Menopause. 2017;24(8):980-987. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000850Avis NE, Legault C, Russell G, Weaver K, Danhauer SC.Pilot study of integral yoga for menopausal hot flashes.Menopause. 2014;21(8):846-854. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000191Sung MK, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang HJ.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
North American Menopause Society.Menopause FAQs: Hot flashes.
Miller SR, Gallicchio LM, Lewis LM, et al.Association between race and hot flashes in midlife women. Maturitas. 2006 Jun 20;54(3):260-9. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.12.001
University of Michigan.25 years of research shows insidious effect of racism on Black women’s menopausal transition, health.
University of Washington Medicine.What happens to your body during a hot flash?.
National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?.
Gallicchio L, Miller SR, Kiefer J, et al.Risk factors for hot flashes among women undergoing the menopausal transition: baseline results from the Midlife Women’s Health Study.Menopause. 2015;22(10):1098-1107. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000434
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
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hormone therapy for menopause: Frequently asked questions.
UpToDate.Patient education: non-estrogen treatments for menopausal symptoms.
Ee C, French SD, Xue CC, Pirotta M, Teede H.Acupuncture for menopausal hot flashes: clinical evidence update and its relevance to decision making.Menopause. 2017;24(8):980-987. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000850
Avis NE, Legault C, Russell G, Weaver K, Danhauer SC.Pilot study of integral yoga for menopausal hot flashes.Menopause. 2014;21(8):846-854. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000191
Sung MK, Lee US, Ha NH, Koh E, Yang HJ.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
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