Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are a major symptom of menopause. This symptom is evident particularly around the head and neck where the skin becomes red and flushed, sometimes accompanied by heavy sweating. The hot flashes continue for more than a year with most women and for a significant number of women it could continue for several years. A hot flash is over in a few minutes often followed by chills. Night flashes may disturb sleep which would further increase the other nagging problems of menopause such as fatigue and a general feeling of sickness.

For many years the scientific community believed that menopause caused a loss in estrogen and therefore hormone replacement therapy was used for treatment of hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. However, later research has indicated that there is no significant loss of estrogen as a result of menopause. Hormone therapy continues to be used but only after the doctor and patient have gone over all the risks and benefits of such treatments. Until recently the hormone used in this therapy was made from horse urine and that may have contributed to the unfavorable affects of hormone therapy. Recent studies have indicated that when natural estrogen and progesterone have been used for hormone therapy it has been safe and well tolerated. There are many other drugs and supplements that can be used for hormone therapy with little risk. If hormone therapy utilizes mild doses of natural estrogen and for only a short time it may be satisfactory. The FDA recently approved Femring: it includes estradiol which is released at intervals for treatment of hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Estradiol is a natural hormone placed in the ring to fit in the vagina and replaced after three months and must be prescribed by a doctor.

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