Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS)
Vasomotor symptoms are hot flashes and night sweats. A hot flash is a sudden wave of heat, often with flushing and sweating. At night the same wave wakes a woman from sleep.
They often begin in perimenopause, while cycles are still regular. In that stage estrogen runs higher and less steady, and progesterone runs lower.1 These symptoms track the ovulatory cycle. Night sweats peak in the premenstrual days of cycles with ovulation.2 That is where the restorative question starts.
Trials have measured progesterone here directly. In a randomized trial of healthy women after menopause, oral micronized progesterone lowered symptom scores more than placebo.3
Cited in this entry
- Prior JC, Hitchcock CL, Shirin S, Hale G, Goshtasebi A. Don't ignore perimenopause. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne. 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37524397/
- Hale GE, Hitchcock CL, Williams LA, Vigna YM, Prior JC. Cyclicity of breast tenderness and night-time vasomotor symptoms in mid-life women: information collected using the Daily Perimenopause Diary. Climacteric : the Journal of the International Menopause Society. 2003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12841883/
- Hitchcock CL, Prior JC. Oral micronized progesterone for vasomotor symptoms--a placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women. Menopause (New York, N.Y.). 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22453200/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.