The Three Main Reasons Why Women Get Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are the most common complaint for women going through menopause. Find out some of the reasons why they occur.

AnnA Rushton

March 15, 2010 | 47 comments

Advice

It seems that hot flashes are the bane of many women’s lives during menopause – and they have quite an effect on those around them too. Hot flashes come on without any warning and can range from being mildly uncomfortable to downright unbearable. Symptoms range from just a slight redness of the face to a full body sweat that leaves you wringing wet and generating enough heat to boil water. Plus the dreaded night sweats that can seriously disturb your sleep.

It’s estimated that around 30% of menopausal women will get some form of hot flashes. How affected you are will depend on several factors, including where you live and what you eat. Some lucky women never get them at all and they are certainly very much more common in the Western world. There is no word in Japanese for instance to cover this phenomenon because they do not seem to suffer from it – unless they have switched to a predominantly Western diet. If you are unlucky enough to suffer from hot flashes this article will help you learn why they occur. If you’re not yet a sufferer, then it will help you gauge whether or not you are likely to become one.

The Reasons Why
Although some lucky women escape completely, there are some very good reasons why we experience the heat that we associate with menopause:

1 – Blood Vessels
Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels below the skin dilate. This causes more blood to rush to the skin’s surface, and that is what makes you look red and flushed, and feel that tell-tale rise in temperature. The body’s normal response to this is to try and cool you down, and it does this by making you sweat. What is unique about hot flashes is that this mechanism kicks in when the outside temperature can be very low and you do not have any signs of fever.

2 – Fluctuating hormones
Well you know all about this during menopause, and in fact the changing levels of your hormones are the prime cause of hot flashes. When your hormone levels fluctuate they cause the temperature control mechanism in the body to be disturbed. The centre which controls this is in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and it seems that it is changing levels of oestrogen and FSH (follicular stimulating hormone) that can upset this delicate balance and cause hot flashes.

Women having hot flashes usually have decreased oestrogen levels and increased FSH levels, but it is important to remember that it is the changes and fluctuations in the hormone levels – rather than the actual amount of hormone being produced – that produces hot flashes.

3 – Surgical menopause
It is to be expected that menopause symptoms come naturally when a woman’s childbearing years are coming to a close and the menopause or perimenopause is under way. However, women who have a hysterectomy or their ovaries removed at an age when they would not normally be going through menopause are more likely to experience more severe and frequent hot flashes after the surgery than in a natural menopause transition.

Even if the ovaries are retained it is no guarantee that an early menopause will not occur, as their effectiveness at producing progesterone will be affected and will diminish over time.

These are some of the reasons behind hot flashes. I hope it helps explain why you may be feeling hot and bothered. After all, knowledge is power, and some women do like to refer to their hot flashes as power surges!

Related Topics: Advice, Hot Flushes, Menopause, Natural Progesterone, Treatments

Tags: Hormones, hot flashes, Hot Flushes, Menopause

Comments 47

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Elizabeth Ackroyd | 3:56 pm, March 18th

I started the menopause 48 was on hrt for 3 years . Then they stoped . But they came back 2 years after so i tried your cream but it did not work . so i have to put up with it .Some days good and bad. From liz

AnnA Rushton | 5:23 pm, March 18th

Sorry to hear you are still suffering Liz, but the thing with hot flushes is there are many ways to treat them and every woman is unique and responds differently. It’s worth trying a few solutions until you find the one that works best for you.

Jane Peters | 5:24 pm, March 18th

I have been using a progesterone cream for about 2 years and its definitely helped me. My husband used to joke we slept in a duck pond because the bed was so wet by the morning with my night sweats! The cream stopped all that and bar the occasional hot flush I’m sailing through the menopause.

AnnA Rushton | 5:55 pm, March 18th

Glad you didn’t end up with webbed feet Jane!

tracey charles | 8:53 pm, March 18th

i had pre menopausal symptoms, i was given dr lee’s book to read. i orderd the natural progesterone cream and my symptoms have massively improved. iat college i even did a presentation on the subject and one of the students now use the cream and has stated that she feels so much better. i try to tell any woman that i come across about oestrogen dominance- i have been continually re-ordering dr lee’s book and give them your web page to order the cream. its surprising the amount of women that do not know about this subject matter. keep up the good work!

patricia | 8:59 pm, March 18th

I’m 70…hd a total hysterectomy aged 32. Had extreme chills and hot flushes. My husband said tht fm that point on he saw me go downhill. I’ve tried everything. I met a woman on a short holiday and she was 80 yrs old…she told me she had them right thru her 70’s. I still suffer fm depression..on medication..but nothing helps..hv hd 3 breakdowns .. electric shock treatment..many types of therapy…suffer insomnia. I may sound like a ‘whinger’ but I am not…I am just ‘wore out.’ I eat soy, both soft and hard, drink green tea, mango, use relaxing music, gym, swim, and massage whn I can afford it..walk to get out in fresh air…u name it, I feel like I hv tried it……

Rae | 4:49 am, March 19th

Same here started at 33 after opp tried other till cancer scare came out went cold turkey THEN i read about this cream i cant Ty enough , worked for awhile then didnt seem to ,increased the cream topped up again but thing i ever brought from over sees have put a lot of my friends onto it here in Australia they also have found the benefits , our saying is ( a little Dab will do ya ) Serenity from wellsprings mad if you don’t try it

nancy | 2:04 am, March 20th

I have had a hysterectomy but still have my ovaries. Hot flashes , broken sleep, low libido, …am on premarin for 3 yrs . I started serenity and thought it was helping. I didn’t stay on it long because I am unsure what I need. Will this cause extra hair growth if I don’t need this hormone? Would like to really give this a try but how do I know for sure which hormone i need?

Karen | 2:46 pm, March 20th

I have been using progestrone and find the hot flashes are not as bad, but still cannot move my weight even by eating healthy.Also hair thinning on the top. I have been on menapause since 42 now 50 been on HRT on and off. I have been told to take a quarter of teaspoon of progestrone now, any other suggestions

MARGARET HORNE | 9:45 pm, April 13th

I AM 71 BEEN ON HRT FOR 17YEARS CAME OF MY DOCTERS ADVICE STILL GETTING BAD FLUSHES CANY LOSE WEIGHT ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE

Dr Tony Coope | 10:43 am, April 17th

For Elizabeth (Ackroyd): often progesterone is sufficient; sometimes you need to add phytoestrogens or herbs such as agnes castus or black cohosh. Sometimes these are enough on their own. The key is to nudge your hormones back into balance.
If you would like to e-mail me in more detail, esp. in relation to your past menstrual history, I will see if I can pick out the clues. If this does not shed light on your problem, you may need a hormone saliva test, which usually clarifies the situation. Good luck! (drcoope@bio-hormone-health.com)

Dr Tony Coope | 9:28 am, April 18th

Nancy: If your hysterectomy was for fibroids/heavy periods; or if you had PMT with headaches, fluid retention, mood swings, breast tenderness, depression or sugar cravings , then you almost certainly had a relative oestrogen ‘dominance’ from a low progesterone level.
This would mean that you should be on progesterone, and not premarin, which, containing mixed oestrogens and no progesterone, is giving you more of what you probably DON”T need.
Progesterone doesn’t cause unwanted hair growth even in ‘excess’. The body has two biochemical pathways to make its stress and sex hormones (eg cortisol, oestrogens and testosterone); one via progesterone, the other via ‘androgens’, which in excess may have a male-type effect on you. If your progesterone is low the body uses this second pathway, hence more androgens, extra hair growth etc. If you would like to e-mail me your tel. number I could call you and discuss what’s best for you (drcoope@bio-hormone-health.com)

Dr Tony Coope | 10:26 am, April 18th

Patricia: this is a bit of a heartbreak story. You don’t say why you had the hysterectomy, but 32 is a very young age to have such a drastic procedure, especially as you lost your ovaries as well.
It sounds as though you have never recovered from the sudden crash in your oestrogen and progesterone levels; 38 years ago medical thinking about these matters was still fairly embryonic, – did you have hormone replacement ?
That’s on one level; but the true cause may well lie in your experiences prior to the operation. Are you carrying an unresolved burden of sadness, regret, or even anger that you have never been able to express? These are sensitive issues, but if you feel you could e-mail me your story in more detail, including the reasons for the operation, what treatment you have had, and what things you yourself have tried, we might be able to help find a solution. We could look at hormonal and nutritional possibilities, and subtler things as well.
As the saying goes: ‘it’s never too late to have a happy childhood!’

(my e-mail as in the column above)

Dr Tony Coope | 11:09 am, April 18th

Karen: it is possible that you might benefit from a phytoestrogen like Soyagen in addition to the progesterone, but if you haven’t already done so you should ask your doctor to check your thyroid function. A possible problem here is that the labs do not routinely check the level of T3 , the more active form of the thyroid hormone. T4 is measured, but if it is not fully converted into T3 in the body, you can be told your tests are ‘normal’ when you do in fact have, an under-active thyroid.
A still useful way of checking for this possibility is to take your under-the-tongue temperature immediately on waking each morning for a week, best done from the second day of your cycle. If this ‘basal’ temperature is less than 97.6F/36.5C, there is a possibility of hypothyroidism.
A very excellent book, if you are interested in thyroid problems, is ‘Your Thyroid, and how to keep it healthy’ by Dr Barry Durrant-Peatfield, (Hammersmith Press).
Let us know how you get on!

Lori | 3:31 am, May 4th

I had to have a hysterectomy (all but one ovary) at 30 due to Endometriosis. I have started having hot flashes but especially the sweats. My dr ran labs and said my hormone levels are normal. Could I still have break through menopause symptoms if my labs are normal? Also had thyroid removed at 28 due to cancer.

Dr Tony Coope | 5:35 pm, May 6th

Lori: this is a tricky one. You do not mention your age and how long you have had
these symptoms, but, yes, you can have them with normal tests, especially if they are on blood not saliva, which is the more reliable. The best treatment for you would depend on an accurate picture of your hormone balance (oestrogen/ -progesterone) now, which may have been affected by stress, oestrogen in any previous HRT, and by your level of thyroid function, which is not always correctly assessed by the routine tests done by NHS laboratories.
You do need to talk this through with a doctor who is familiar with these things. If this is not possible for you, I would be very happy to do so and hope to guide you in the right direction. (drcoope@bio-hormone-health.com)

Lori | 7:22 pm, May 6th

I’m sorry. I am 34 now. All of this happened pretty recently. The hot flashes started about 6 months ago after I had a grapefruit size, benign cyst in my abdomen removed last August (post hysterectomy). I have another appointment this month & I will ask again. No one seems ready to say that is what it is since my labs look so good.
Thank you for your response.

Dr Tony Coope | 11:30 pm, May 6th

Lori: your history of endometriosis, and more recently the development of the cyst, suggests to me that the likely cause of your flushes is an imbalance (increase) in the ratio of oestrogen to progesterone in your hormone levels. This could be clarified via saliva testing, which would show whether progesterone cream would be of benefit to you. Please let us know if you reach an impasse and need some help.

LISA | 5:38 am, May 10th

I AM 47 IHAD A RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY 18 MONTHS AGO I SUFFERED WITH VERY HEAVY BLEEDING AND DEBILATATING PAINFUL PERIODS FROM 13 I HAD A CIN 1 8 YEARS AGO FOLLOWED BY A LETZ PROCEEDURE I HAVE HAD BUSRTING OVARIAN CYSTS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AS WELL AS LARGE AMOUNTS OF FIBROIDS
SELF DIAGNOSED ENDOMETRIOSIS UNTIL I DEVELOPED AN 8CM CYST ON MY RIGHT OVARY
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THE DOC I WAS REFERED TO THROUGH THE SYTEM WAS AN ENDO SPECIALIST
WITH ALL MY PROBLEMS HE RECOMENDED AN HISTORECTOMY
BECAUSE I HAVE A LIGHT FRAME HE SUGGESTED PREMERIN STRAIGHT AFTER THE OPERATION AS I HADN’T BEEN MENOPAUSAL AT THIS STAGE
MY MOTHER SUFFERED FOR MY YEARS WITH HOT FLUSHES AND DEPRESSION AND MY SISTER IS AT END STAGES OF BREAST CANCER
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TERRIFIED OF HOT FLUSHES AS MY BODY BUT NEVER DOES ANYTHING BY HALVES
I DONT WANT TO BE ON HRT EITHER I HAVE 2 CONFLICTNG LOTS OF MEDICAL INFO 1 BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MY OVARIES OUT THAT ONCE THE FLUCTUATION OF HORMONES STOPS (how long might that be) THAT THE HOT FLUSHES WILL STOP
THE OTHER IS THAT BECAUSE OF NO OVARIES THE HOT FLUSHES WILL BE WORSE AS WELL AS SKIN AND HAIR DETERIORATION IF I DONT TAKE THE PREMERIN
P.S. I HAVE HAD AT MY INSISTANCE A BONE DENSITY SCAN AND IT HAS COME BACK GOOD
THANK YOU

Dr Shirley A Bond | 11:38 am, May 10th

Dear Lisa,
As you are young (47) and your periods had not stopped prior to your hysterectomy and removal of ovaries you may well need hormone replacement.

However you must realize that oestrogen (Premarin) on its own is not a good idea. Oestrogen should always be balanced with progesterone whether you still have a uterus or not. This is to protect the body from unwanted effects of oestrogen on its own on the body.

If you do not want to be on HRT at all you could always come off your Premarin slowly and see how you are. The hot flushes will stop eventually and can be helped to do so by taking supplements containing isoflavones and using some progesterone cream.
Alternatively you could ask your doctor to prescribe some Oestriol (a weak oestrogen and combine it with Progesterone cream such as Serenity

If oestriol is not available the tablet called Hormonin in the UK may be.
Even though your bones are OK now you must look after them. You can do this by taking a good bone supplement (details are on the web site) combined with progesterone cream.
If you want more details we can arrange a telephone consultation if you email me via the site.

Diana | 5:20 pm, May 26th

I am 52 and have had hot flushes since age 50. I started on the serenity cream a few months ago and am also on evening primrose oil, black cohosh, phytoestrogens, st johns wort and kalms tablets which contain valerian to help sleep. Despite all this, I sleep badly and sweat at night. Is there anything else you could recommend so I can get a good night’s sleep and stop sweating, particularly at night. I haven’t had any children nor any gynaecological problems or operations.

Thank you.

Diana

AnnA Rushton | 1:10 pm, May 28th

Diana as you have presented quite a number of different issues here, I have passed on your comment to Dr Coope and his reply to you is below:

Diana – That’s quite a collection you are on, which may possibly be counter-productive. I would want to simplify things a little, but to do that it would be good to know a little more of your story,- for instance your past symptoms; to what degree depression has been a problem for you; and how much stress you have been, and are now, experiencing.

The sleep aspect is very important in all of this, – it contributes to the situation significantly, so it is important to get right.

One of the very best products I have found for this is a nutritional supplement called ‘Total Calm’, containing 3 amino-acids which help balance the body’s natural mood and brain chemistry. It tends to lift mood, reduces tension and regulates sleep without the unwanted side-effects of tranquillisers, sleeping pills or anti-depressants.

For a general balancing of your hormonal system, a combined botanical/homeopathic product called ‘Endopath-F’ is very interesting, and definitely worth trying in any female system imbalance such as hot flashes, PMS, mood swings or general menopausal symptoms.

These supplements come from different companies in the USA, but can be ordered in the UK from ‘Health Matters’ via e-mail: info@healthmatters.tc

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the above, please get in touch with me via drcoope@bio-hormonehealth.com

Hayley | 3:22 pm, October 10th

Hi Im 44 and have been experiencing menopausal symptoms on and off for the past 2 yrs. My periods stopped totally about 18 months ago and the hot flashes have been evident over the past 2 yrs but not all the time during the 21months or so. My problems have really arisen over the past 2 months where I can only describe my symptoms as a nightmare!.. I get the flashes and quite excessive sweating mainly in the day time but my sleep is interrupted each night by quite mild flashing and sweating and greatly disrupts my pattern of sleep thus making me completely worn out throughout the day. I have tried herbal tablets black cohosh & menolieve etc but had no relief. My GP started me on clonidine recently but I have felt extremely light headed and noticed my BP has plummeted – hence I have had to cut them right down – only 25mcg BD – however I still feel light headed. Im not sure what else to try and there is such a mind field of products out there its difficult to know which to choose. I have been feeling pretty miserable of late because I hadn’t realised how unwell my symptoms are making me feel. Im normally very active of reasonably normal weight (although have put on few pounds – that I want to lose). Im really asking for any help and assistance you can offer as Im at a loss as in which direction to turn.
Many thanks
Hayley

Dr Shirley Bond | 10:23 am, October 11th

Dear Haley,
Unfortunately it is often the case that women like you who have an early menopause experience severe problems.

I do not understand why your GP has given you Clonodine when you obviously need some hormone replacement unless of course there is some medical reason for this that you have not mentioned.

I would sugest that you consult a doctor who is experienced in the use of bio-identical hormones which are what I would suggest. However a full medical history would be needed before you were prescribed these.

Masha | 5:02 pm, January 21st

Hi Dr., I am having a really hard time with so much. I am 36 yrs old, i have 2 school aged boys, am married. In less than 6 months I put on 50 lbs. and my whole shape changed from light pear to extreme apple shape. I have never had such a huge stomach. I am hypothyroid, but am being treated. I also suffer from fibromyalgia and sjogren’s syndrome. I took a 24 hr cortisol test which was normal (yet that day I had severe itching so I took 8 benedryl)I think one of the worst symptoms is severe depression, over 4 months now, plus lots of anxiety. I wish I had enough money to work with a natural type dr and really figure out what’s wrong. I also have aged alot. I have been really hot upon wakening and really warm in 40 degree weather. I am on a lot of medications. I constantly have headaches and nausea, daily. Every afternoon around 4 pm I crash, even though I get a lot of exercise. I really want to get better, especially so I can be a better mommy and enjoy life.Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thank You in advance!!

Elizabeyh Ackroyd | 4:39 pm, January 23rd

Hi Dr . I have had this for two years and this year . It makes me not well at times and it is not fair on my husband he is so good . I have tried things but no good .Can you tell me about hormone saliva test will it work . E Ackroyd

AnnA Rushton | 5:45 pm, January 23rd

Elizabeth – a saliva test will not treat hot flashes, only establish what your hormone levels. Talk to your doctor about being tested and discuss what you have already tried to deal with the flashes and it may that are and if you need supplementing with natural progesterone could be the answer.

Dr Tony Coope | 9:44 am, January 24th

Masha: this sounds complicated, with a number of metabolic systems involved, – hormonal, thyroid, immune, probable insulin resistance and sugar imbalance, as well as the anxiety/depression. Behind it all may be some deep emotional issues of which you may or may not be aware.
To unravel just what is involved, and what is causing what, will take time, and would best be done face to face with a doctor who understands these things, but obviously it may not be so easy to find one in your local area.
If you would like to e-mail me your story separately, I will have a look at it and see if I can piece together a coherent diagnosis, – how it all fits together; but I would need to know a lot more detail about your past and family illnesses, what investigations you have had, and their results; what medications you are on, and a detailed history of your symptoms in the order they have developed. I’ll then come back to you with some questions, and we’ll see where we can go from there.

Peggie | 6:15 pm, April 11th

I am 61 years old and have been on Cenestin HRT for at least 13 years now. I am still suffering hot flashes, night sweats and the very worst… insufferable insomnia. I have no clue anymore what it’s like to have a decent night’s sleep. Could it be that I need to be on either a stronger doseage of the Cenestin or a completely different HRT? I’m getting desperate here, mostly for a good night’s rest. I work at a high school and have to be ALERT… not falling asleep at my desk! Thanks!

AnnA Rushton | 3:36 pm, April 12th

Dear Peggie – HRT is intended to ‘flatten out’ your hormone surges and in this respect it can help with hot flashes. However, long term HRT is not recommended for many health reasons and there is no guarantee that increasing the dose will have the effect you desire.

I spoke with Dr Coope, whose articles you will find on the site, and his comment was that you should not be on this form of HRT at this time of your life, partly because of the potential health risks, but also because it is clearly not solving your problems.

Cenestin contains a mixture of estrogens, with no ‘opposing’ progestogen, which suggests you have had a hysterectomy before you started on it. Many of the reasons for a hysterectomy are related to estrogen dominance, – a relative deficiency of progesterone; this is likely to still be having effects now, particularly on your sleep.
Dr Coope suggests NO to a higher dose of Cenestin, and no to another form of HRT until you have talked to a doctor who understands this situation, and probably have had a simple saliva test to assess your progesterone/estrogen levels. It should not be difficult to turn this around, but there needs to be an accurate diagnosis first.
If you wish to speak with Dr Coope further about this he is happy to talk it through with you her if you email him via the site.

I hope that helps – AnnA

Peggie | 6:03 pm, April 12th

Thanks for the reply, Anna & Dr. Coope. Yes, I had a hysterectomy at age 32 due to pre cancer, however my ovaries were left. Consequently, I went through a “normal” menopause in my late 40’s. I was shocked to read your comments about the progesterone, as my old GYN kept telling me that by only having me on Estrogen, it would lessen my chances of breast cancer. I am VERY confused now. Coincidentally, I have a GYN appointment this afternoon with a new doctor as my old one retired last summer. I have printed out my original inquiry and your response from this website and will definitely be bringing it along with me. I will update. Thanks again.

Julie Guthery | 1:29 am, October 12th

I’m 43 yrs old and had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago. (2009) I was pregnant and lost the baby due to a large fibroid tumor that was growing towards my spine. I had a D&C, and a week later a hysterectomy. I have 1 ovary left. I’m sitting here burning up. Can a woman have hot flashes and menopause with 1 ovary?

wellsprings | 9:00 am, October 12th

Julie – a woman can have hot flashes at any time as it is related to fluctuating hormone levels and those can occur throughout a woman’s life. Other factors also influence them such as stress, diet and oestrogen dominance where your progesterone is not sufficient to counter the effects of the oestrogen.

After a hysterectomy, even with one ovary left, you will very likely not be producing progesterone and not enough to balance the oestrogen.

Dr Tony Coope | 9:38 am, October 12th

Julie: in normal circumstances, one ovary should be enough to maintain function. The key here is your hysterectomy, – it is not uncommon after such an operation, even if both ovaries are left, for their hormonal output to decline within 2 or 3 years, bringing about a premature menopause; so the answer to your question is yes, and this is likely what has happened here.
For the future, you may be advised to go onto standard HRT, but I would urge caution. It is very entrenched in medical thinking that hot flashes are simply due to a lack of estrogen, and thus are symptoms of ‘an estrogen deficiency syndrome’. This is much like saying a headache is the result of an aspirin deficiency, – it is more complicated than that!
Because you no longer have a risk of developing cancer of the womb, you will probably be offered an estrogen-only form of HRT, the protective effect of a progestin not being needed. But you developed a large fibroid, which suggests that for some time you have had a hormone imbalance of estrogen in relation to depleted progesterone levels,(estrogen encouraging its growth, and progesterone opposing that effect).
If this is the case, then more estrogen for you may ease the flashes, but at the cost of a significant risk of side effects, including an increased risk of breast cancer.
I think it is important for you to know what your estrogen/progesterone balance is (a simple saliva test), so that, if you do need estrogen, it can be balanced with bio-identical progesterone. It may even be that progesterone alone will rebalance you, and save you significant difficulties in the future.
One last thing; stress is a big factor in the development of hormonal problems, and hormonal imbalance makes it more difficult to cope with stress. I would think that losing your womb and your baby at the same time has to be very near the top of a list of possible emotional traumas, which is why I think it is so important for you to get this one right.

janice m Haag | 5:59 pm, November 16th

I am 71 and for the past year I am having hot flashes I had a partial hystromey at the age of 48 I never took harmone replacement therpy.

Dr Tony Coope | 5:32 pm, November 17th

Janice: if you are asking a question, I imagine it is to do with experiencing hot flushes many years post-menopause, possibly not having had many previous problems. This is always slightly puzzling; you probably need to consult your doctor about this if you haven’t already done so. In my experience it is often helpful to have a 1-day estrogen/progesterone (saliva) test before attempting to treat these symptoms, but the alternative is to trial a course of herbal supplements such as black cohosh, dong quai or soy isoflavones, or if they are not effective, obtain a pot of 20:1 combined progesterone/estrogen cream from Wellsprings, which is often very helpful in this situation.

Peggie | 6:22 pm, November 17th

As a follow up to a previous post: I had to be taken completely off ALL forms of HRT due to my having had a stroke in April. So consequently, ALL my menopausal symptoms have returned with a vengence. I managed to get the night sweats under control with the herbal supplement (Estroven clone) and am also using melatonin for the insomnia. Unfortunately, my hot flashes are getting insufferable. At home it’s not so much an issue as I can take off what needs to be taken off until the chills start. But at work, no way! While recuperating in the hospital from my stroke, I received a call that my dear mother had passed. The hospital discharged me on Celexa as an anti-depressant. At my last GYN appointment, I was told that Effexor is another anti-depressant, which has been found to also control hot flashes for certain women. So the doctor switched me to the Effexor XR. I’ve been on this for almost a month now and have noticed no difference. I’m at my wit’s end. I baby sit my 5 month old granddaughter and have found that I cannot even hold her, as her body heat will bring on a monstrous hot flash. I’ve learned to bring a tank top with me when baby sitting, but how ridiculous is this…wearing a tank top in the middle of the winter time? Any help out there?????

wellsprings | 6:39 pm, November 17th

Peggie – you might find Dr Coope’s response to the previous post also helpful for you. Also there is an article on the site about herbal help for menopause here: http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/08/30/herbal-help-for-menopause/

You don’t say if you are already taking Serenity, but if you are then you may find it helpful to increase the amount of cream to a quarter teaspoon for a month and monitor your progress. Also, some women do find that they get fast relief from flushes by applying the cream during a flush to the inner wrist where the skin is thinner. This works faster, but is not as long lasting in terms of effect so you do need to also be rotating the cream to the other sites as usual.

Sweats like this really do make life difficult, so I hope you get relief soon.

Dr Tony Coope | 3:55 pm, November 23rd

Peggie and Janice: there is not enough space to develop this in detail here, but I’ll be posting an article on this site very soon; there is another way of perceiving menopausal symptoms. A recent study has shown that a much higher proportion of ‘older’ women (average age 59 in this study) than was expected still suffer from hot flashes and night sweats, well after menopause is assumed to be over.
To me this is further confirmation that it’s not ‘just your hormones’, but that there is something deeper going on, and that particularly over the age of 55 and beyond an approach beyond the hormonal is needed to achieve resolution of these persistent symptoms.
I’ll develop this further in the article, but if you really pay attention when you are having a flush, you may become aware that there is an emotion always present underneath the physical symptoms, an emotion that has the power to instantly make you ‘all hot and bothered’. This would not be the same for every woman, nor may it be the same one every time – it could be fear, anger, shame, self- criticism, regret and a number of other, less obvious feelings.
In this way of looking at things, resolution or a lessening of symptoms would result from contemplating these perhaps suppressed emotions, of which you may not have been aware, and bringing them up into the light of your awareness.
In the article I’ll include some thoughts on the best ways to achieve this somewhat daunting, but ultimately rewarding, task.

Peggie | 1:41 am, November 24th

Looking forward to reading your article, Dr. Coope. Hopefully, there will be some help for us women who are forever taking our own personal “tropical” vacations.

Helga Kelsch | 10:03 am, December 28th

I’m 72, my Dr. took me of the patches witch I have taken for 18 years, I’m on promensil for 3 month but thy don’t help, I have up to 20 Hot flashes per day and night sweats some days few less, I’m not happy, can some one help ???

wellsprings | 10:22 am, December 28th

Helga – we are very sorry to hear this, but hot flushes are very individual and can be subject to a number of causes including hormonal imbalance and a number of other factors can also be involved, including oestrogen dominance and stress.

Many women do find that by supplementing with Serenity bioidentical progesterone helps control their flushes.

You will find several articles on this site relating to hot flushes but two that would be most useful to you are these:

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/03/15/the-three-main-reasons-why-women-get-hot-flashes/

http://www.bio-hormone-health.com/2010/03/15/what-is-oestrogen-dominance/

We do hope this helps and answers your questions but don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more information.

Amy | 2:48 am, January 22nd

I am 36 years old and have not had a hysterectomy. My mother went thru menopause at age 40 and her mother went thru it at age 39. I have been suffering from intense hot flashes for 3 years now…the kind that make you drip sweat off of your face and entire body and then freeze to death from the body’s response to cool you down. And the night sweats keep me from having a peaceful night’s sleep. It started when I began having extended periods 3 years ago. I eventually had a DNC in hopes of correcting the extended periods. I would sometimes have 2 periods a month. Now I have started skipping periods. And sometimes will spot in between periods. I sometimes get a break from the hot flashes but if I have an abnormal period, they come back with a vengeance. My OB/GYN hasn’t done much about it other than prescribe anti-depressants which I took with no improvement in my symptoms. I don’t think he believes I could be going through menopause at such a young age. I am extremely frustrated as this is affecting my quality of life. Can you offer me any suggestions?

wellsprings | 4:20 pm, January 22nd

Amy – although there is an average age for menopause it is very variable depending on the state of your hormonal health. From your description you sound to be in perimenopause with all that entails and certainly bioidentical progesterone cream can help alleviate hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety and depression.

You will see from the previous answer to Helga that there are a number of articles on this site to help you and to start with looking at oestrogen dominance and then reasons for hot flashes would be the place to begin.

Peggie | 7:37 pm, January 22nd

I wanted to ask, is Serenity okay to use for a woman who has suffered stroke? My GYN had pulled me off all hormones because she said there is risk of clotting which is not good for a stroke patient Looking forward to a positive answer. THe hot flashes have not eased.

Dr Tony Coope | 4:48 pm, January 23rd

Peggie: the increased risk of blood clotting problems that may give rise to strokes, deep vein thrombosis and heart attacks is only related to the synthetic progestogens, not the bioidentical progesterone that is the basis of Serenity and various other ‘natural’ creams.

Peggie | 4:54 pm, January 23rd

Dr. Coope, thank you for your quick response to my post. I will be ordering the Serenity post haste.