Diagnosis
When hot flashes occur, affected women usually consult a doctor. The doctor usually asks about other symptoms that typically occur during menopause. For example, after the absence of periods, headaches, sleeping disorders, etc.
Based on the patient’s medical history (talking to the patient to find the cause of a symptom), an initial assessment can be made as to whether the hot flashes are menopausal symptoms. In most cases, the conversation is followed by a physical examination, which is mainly used to rule out other causes that could be responsible for the hot flushes. More about this:
- Signs of menopause
Course of disease
Hot flushes decrease in the majority of women during the menopause. Especially before the onset of the menopause or at the beginning of it, they can be very strong and those affected suffer from sudden heat attacks. In a large number of cases, however, the hot flushes disappear again by the end of the menopause at the latest.
Duration
Hot flashes usually last only a few minutes. To the women’s sorrow, however, they usually occur several times during the day and also during the night. Hot flushes are often an “early or introductory” symptom of the menopause.
In many women they subside during the course of the menopause. In about 1/3 of those affected, however, the hot flushes persist throughout the menopause. Hormone replacement therapy may be considered if the hot flushes are severe.In the best case, this leads to a reduction in symptoms and even to the disappearance of hot flushes.