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Elderly women still suffer from hot flashes and night sweats after menopause

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021

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22 November 2011, 16:50

Women years after the onset of menopause still feel hot flashes and night sweats, a new study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (BJOG) revealed.

Hot flushes and night sweats (HF / NS) are the main physical signs of menopause, but their prevalence, frequency, severity and duration vary considerably.

The average age of menopause in European women is 50-51 years, and, as a rule, HF / NS lasts from 2 to 5 years.

The study involved 10,418 women in the postmenopausal period (defined as amenorrhea more than 12 months) at the age of 54 to 65 years. The average age of women was 59 years. Most of them had higher socio-economic status and lived in urban areas.

The study examined the effects of age, body mass index, hysterectomy, the use of hormone therapy, lifestyle and moods for menopause symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats).

Participants completed a questionnaire that included characteristics such as weight, height, and medical history.

The majority (89.6%) of women tested HF / NS for some time. Women more often felt hot flashes (86%) than night sweats (78%).

The study also showed that factors such as hysterectomy, smoking and alcohol use increase the risk of developing HF / NS.

Professor Hunter from the Institute of Psychiatry (London) said: "A large number of older postmenopausal women participated in our study, and we were surprised to find that menopause symptoms persisted in more than half of women, and they still have hot flashes for ten years after the beginning of menopause. "

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