Is It Normal to Have Hot Flashes After Going Through Menopause?
In this video, ob-gyn Jennifer Wu, MD, talks about why women have hot flashes after menopause, and what can be done about it.
During perimenopause (the natural transition into menopause) and menopause, a woman’s estrogen levels begin to decrease. This affects the part of the brain that regulates body temperature. As a result, you may feel a sudden rise in temperature for about 10 to 12 seconds. The light at the end of the tunnel is that they’ll end when menopause does — right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Hot flashes may continue for several years after your periods have stopped.
Some people may also benefit from medications to manage hot flashes. These include both hormonal (with estrogen) and non-hormonal options. Talk to your doctor before starting any treatment for hot flashes.
- Jennifer Wu, MDDr. Wu is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in New York City.
References
Avis, NE, et al. (2015). Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Internal Medicine.
Huang, AJ, et al. (2008). Persistent hot flushes in older postmenopausal women. Archives of Internal Medicine.
Rödström, Kerstin. (2002). A longitudinal study of the treatment of hot flushes: the population study of women in Gothenburg during a quarter of a century. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg University.