Menopause hot flashes and night sweats may last longer than seven years

By Bilge Türk | MediCenter TV

ANKARA, TURKEY — Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most common symptoms of menopause and can affect sleep, concentration, daily activities and work performance, while research suggests they may persist for more than seven years in some women.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Zülfikaroğlu said vasomotor symptoms, or VMS, are often underestimated despite the significant burden they can place on women’s quality of life.

She emphasized that menopause is a natural stage of life, but that does not mean women should simply tolerate symptoms that substantially interfere with their physical comfort, sleep or everyday functioning.

Hot flashes and night sweats can disrupt daily life

Vasomotor symptoms typically include hot flashes and night sweats, which are among the most frequently reported complaints during the menopausal transition.

Hot flashes may appear suddenly and involve an intense sensation of heat, flushing of the face and sweating. Night sweats occur during sleep and can be severe enough to repeatedly wake a woman during the night.

According to Zülfikaroğlu, interrupted sleep can prevent women from feeling rested in the morning and may contribute to fatigue, reduced concentration and lower daytime performance.

Research cited in the press release has also linked more severe vasomotor symptoms with impaired sleep, reduced quality of life and decreased productivity.

The effects therefore extend beyond short periods of physical discomfort.

Repeated night-time awakenings can influence energy levels the following day, while frequent daytime hot flashes may interfere with work, social activities and the ability to concentrate on routine tasks.

Symptoms may last longer than many women expect

For some women, menopausal symptoms diminish within a few years. For others, they can continue well beyond the menopausal transition.

Zülfikaroğlu said long-term observational studies have found that vasomotor symptoms can persist for more than seven years in many women.

One of the studies cited in the press release, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined the duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms across the menopause transition and found substantial variation between women.

This means there is no single timetable that applies to everyone.

Some women may have relatively mild symptoms for a limited period, while others experience frequent or intense hot flashes and night sweats for many years.

The severity and duration of symptoms can also change over time.

For that reason, symptoms that continue to interfere with sleep or daily functioning should not necessarily be dismissed on the assumption that they will soon disappear on their own.

Studies in Turkey point to a substantial symptom burden

Research conducted among women in Turkey also indicates that menopausal symptoms can be significant for a considerable proportion of participants.

A 2024 study cited in the press release used the Menopause Rating Scale, or MRS, and reported that about 95 percent of women included in that particular study experienced menopausal symptoms classified as moderate, severe or very severe.

Another Turkish study cited in the material found moderate or severe menopausal symptoms in approximately half of the women assessed.

These findings should be interpreted within the populations and methods of the individual studies and do not mean that the same percentages apply to every woman in Turkey.

They do, however, highlight that menopausal symptoms can represent an important health and quality-of-life issue rather than a minor inconvenience.

European research cited in the release has likewise documented a substantial prevalence and quality-of-life burden associated with vasomotor symptoms.

Sleep, mood and work performance may also be affected

The impact of menopause is not limited to physical sensations of heat and sweating.

Night sweats can repeatedly interrupt sleep, and insufficient or fragmented sleep may contribute to daytime fatigue, reduced energy and difficulty maintaining concentration.

Studies cited in the press material have associated vasomotor symptom severity with sleep impairment and reduced work productivity.

Changes in quality of life, mood and anxiety symptoms have also been reported alongside disruptive menopausal symptoms.

Zülfikaroğlu said the idea that women should normalize these problems and remain silent about them needs to change.

“Menopause is not a period in which women have to compromise their quality of life.”

She added that scientific understanding of menopause symptom management has expanded and encouraged women to discuss symptoms that affect their daily lives with their physicians.

The goal is not to treat menopause itself as a disease, but to recognize when symptoms are creating a meaningful health or functional burden.

Management should be individualized

There is no single treatment approach that is appropriate for every woman with hot flashes or night sweats.

Age, symptom severity, medical history, accompanying conditions and individual health risks can all affect which options may be considered.

The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement from The Menopause Society, cited in the press release, identifies a range of evidence-based approaches for vasomotor symptoms and emphasizes individualized assessment.

Hormonal and nonhormonal options may be considered depending on the woman’s health profile, symptoms and preferences.

The suitability of menopausal hormone therapy, in particular, cannot be determined solely on the basis of the presence of hot flashes or night sweats.

A clinician may need to review a woman’s broader medical history and individual risks before deciding whether a particular treatment is appropriate.

For this reason, women are advised not to copy another person’s menopause treatment or assume that one standard approach will work for everyone.

Women do not have to silently endure disruptive symptoms

Menopause is a normal biological transition, but severe or persistent symptoms do not have to be ignored simply because they occur during this stage of life.

Zülfikaroğlu said one of the most important steps is greater awareness that support and management options exist.

Women whose hot flashes or night sweats regularly interrupt sleep, interfere with work, affect social activities or significantly reduce quality of life can discuss those concerns with a healthcare professional.

A medical evaluation can help determine the severity of symptoms, consider other possible causes where necessary and identify an approach suited to the individual.

The overall message from the research and expert assessment is that vasomotor symptoms can be both common and long-lasting, but their impact on daily life should not be dismissed as something women simply have to endure.

Recognizing symptoms early, discussing them openly and considering evidence-based options may help women move through menopause with less disruption to sleep, work and overall well-being.

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