Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause – HealthyWomen

VMS can affect quality of life

Nearly half of women rate their VMS as moderate to severe during the first two years after their last menstrual period. Moderate symptoms include mild sweating and usually do not significantly disrupt a woman’s life. However, severe VMS can make it difficult to concentrate on daily activities such as going to work or running errands.

VMS can be devastating and seemingly disconcerting. “The symptoms are discomfort, flushing, redness. For many people, this can stop them in their tracks,” Noble said. It’s not easy to concentrate on what you’re doing when your face suddenly turns red and your body feels like a furnace.

VMS can also disrupt sleep, cause anxiety, and negatively impact relationships. “It impacts family, intimacy, relationships with the outside world, and certainly the workplace,” Noble said. As you try to manage your symptoms, you may not want to go out with friends or be intimate with your partner.

VMS can also affect your diet and exercise ability. If you’re sweating at night and lacking energy from lack of sleep, you may not be able to make healthy food choices or feel like moving your body the next day.

Dealing with VMS Symptoms

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce VMS symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight; Eat a healthy plant-based diet. Avoid alcohol, hot drinks and caffeine. And quitting smoking can help. Adjusting your bedroom temperature at night, sleeping with a fan on, and drinking cold water before bed are other ways to alleviate VMS.

Noble suggests wearing layers of clothing to keep sweat from getting into your clothes. She also recommends predicting when hot flushes are most likely to occur to help you prepare. “The more people understand what’s going on, the more empowered they are,” she said.

The Menopause Society also suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy and clinical hypnosis may be helpful. If these strategies don’t work, consider asking your health care provider (HCP) about medication. Studies have shown that hormone therapy can control hot flashes and has the added benefit of supporting cardiovascular and bone health.

There are also non-hormonal medications known as neurokinin receptor antagonists that are FDA-approved as options for treating hot flashes due to menopause. Additionally, one antidepressant is FDA-approved to manage hot flashes. “We have a variety of options and can tailor them to the individual and their preferences,” Noble said.

When to see a health care provider for VMS

One study found that VMS is the top reason women make appointments with their HCP. However, Noble suggests scheduling a consultation. before I have menopausal symptoms. She counsels her patients when they are in their late 30s or early 40s.

Making an appointment with your health care provider before disruptive symptoms appear can help you feel better prepared. Having these conversations sooner can also tell you whether you’re at increased risk for other menopause-related problems, such as osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease, Noble said. “It’s important to get reliable information and not get caught up in all the areas of the internet selling supplements and other menopause products that may not be effective.”

When talking to your provider, be open and honest about your symptoms and concerns. If you feel that your symptoms are not resolving, it may be time to find another provider. With so many options available, no one needs to struggle with a VMS.