Beyond hot flashes, perimenopause and menopause can be accompanied by mood changes, irritability, depression, vaginal dryness, bladder issues, decreased fertility (in the case of perimenopause) and sexual issues, including lessened desire and difficulty becoming aroused. If the cause of hot flashes is indeed perimenopause or menopause, then the patient is also at risk for osteoporosis, a bone-wasting disease, and higher cholesterol levels.

Hot Flash Treatments

The onset of hot flashes is not fully understood, so there are no foolproof treatments that can prevent them, particularly if they are not menopause related.

Hormone treatments with estrogen are typically used to treat hot flashes and other perimenopause or menopause symptoms.

Hormone therapy – Administered via skin patches, creams or pills that may ease some of the symptoms of perimenopause and/or menopause, including hot flashes. The woman’s medical history and whether the woman still has a uterus will determine the dose, which is typically a lower dose to start. There have been studies linking estrogen therapy to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer, but many doctors believe that the studies focused on post-menopausal women. The treatments, researchers believe, do not have the same effect on younger, pre-menopausal women.

Vaginal estrogen – Available as a topical cream, taken orally or inserted into the vaginal canal, these treatments provide small doses of estrogen.

Antidepressants -- If estrogen can’t be taken, some doctors prescribe mood-enhancing serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), which can elevate mood and help with hot flashes.