What are vasomotor symptoms due to menopause?

The hot flushes and night sweats you’re experiencing are called VMS, or Vasomotor Symptoms, due to menopause¹

Hot flushes are sudden and intense sensations of heat in your face, neck, and chest, and may be accompanied by sweating, reddening of the skin, chills and rapid heartbeat^1,2

VMS originates in a part of your brain that regulates your body's temperature, called the hypothalamus.

To keep your internal thermostat in check, your body relies on having a balance between oestrogen and a brain receptor called NKB.

During menopause, when oestrogen levels decrease, this balance is lost.

This causes your hypothalamus to tell your body you're hot when you're not.

To cool down, your hypothalamus triggers hot flushes and night sweats.

See how VMS can affect many parts of your life

References:

Thurston RC. Vasomotor symptoms. In: Crandall CJ, Bachman GA, Faubion SS, et al., eds. Menopause Practice: A Clinician's Guide. 6th ed. Pepper Pike, OH: North American Menopause Society, 2019;43-55.
Kronenberg F. Hot flashes: epidemiology and physiology. Ann NY Acad Sci 1990;592:52-86.
Guideline on clinical investigation of medicinal products for hormone replacement therapy of oestrogen deficiency symptoms in postmenopausal women. EMA. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/clinical-investigation-medicinal-products-hormone-replacement-therapy-oestrogen-deficiency-symptoms. Accessed July 07, 2023.
Avis NE, Crawford SL, Greendale G, et al. Duration of menopausal vasomotor symptoms over the menopause transition. JAMA Intern Med 2015;175(4):531-539.