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Older women still suffer from hot flashes and night sweats after the onset of menopause
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Women still experience hot flashes and night sweats years after menopause, a new study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (BJOG) has found.
Hot flashes 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 HF/NS typically lasts 2 to 5 years.
The study included 10,418 postmenopausal women (defined as amenorrhea for more than 12 months) aged 54 to 65 years. The average age of the women was 59 years. Most had an above-average socioeconomic status and lived in urban areas.
The study examined the effects of age, body mass index, hysterectomy, use of hormone therapy, lifestyle and mood on menopausal symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats).
Participants completed a questionnaire that included characteristics such as weight, height, and medical history.
Most (89.6%) women experienced HF/NS at some time. Women were more likely to experience hot flashes (86%) than night sweats (78%).
The study also found that factors such as hysterectomies, smoking and alcohol consumption increased the risk of developing HF/NS.
Professor Hunter, from the Institute of Psychiatry, London, said: "Our study involved a large number of older postmenopausal women and we were surprised to find that menopausal symptoms persisted in more than half of the women. They were still having hot flushes ten years after the onset of the menopause."
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