Vasomotor Symptoms Across the Menopause Transition: Differences Among Women

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 629 - 640
• Main Authors: Avis, Nancy E, Crawford, Sybil L, Green, Robin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2018
• Subjects: Anxiety - physiopathology; Cigarette Smoking; Depression - physiopathology; Educational Status; Ethnic Groups - statistics & numerical data; Female; Hot Flashes - physiopathology; Humans; Menopause - physiology; Menopause - psychology; Premenstrual Syndrome - physiopathology; Risk Factors; Vasomotor System - physiopathology; Women's Health; Vasomotor symptoms; Menopause; Hot flashes; Night sweats
• ISSN: 0889-8545; 1558-0474
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.005

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are the primary menopausal symptoms, occurring in up 80% of women and peaking around the final menstrual period. The average duration is 10 years, longer in women with an earlier onset. Compared with non-Hispanic white women, black and Hispanic women are more likely and Asian women are less likely to report VMS. Risk factors include greater body composition (in the early stage of menopausal transition), smoking, anxiety, depression, sensitivity to symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, lower education, and medical treatments, such as hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and breast cancer-related therapies. VMS patterns over time and within higher-risk subgroups are heterogeneous across women.