Menopause symptoms
Hot flushes and night sweats in menopause
Hot flushes and night sweats can begin during perimenopause and continue after periods stop. A HerDoc GP can talk through the pattern, other symptoms, possible causes and treatment-option questions with you online.
Can menopause cause hot flushes and night sweats?
Yes. Hot flushes and night sweats can happen during perimenopause and menopause, although other causes are possible. You can talk with a HerDoc GP online about what the episodes feel like, how often they happen, what else you have noticed and what may help.
What a hot flush can feel like
A hot flush is a sudden feeling of heat that may begin around the chest and move to the neck or face. Your skin may look red or flushed, and you may sweat. An episode may last from a few seconds to several minutes, and the frequency can vary widely.
When a hot flush happens at night, it is often called a night sweat. You may wake feeling hot or damp, or the sweating may be heavy enough that you need to change clothes or bedding. Night sweats can interrupt sleep and leave you tired or irritable the next day.
Other causes are worth considering
Hormonal changes are a common cause of hot flushes and night sweats, but they are not the only cause. Stress or anxiety, thyroid conditions, low blood sugar, infections and some medicines can also contribute to flushing or sweating.
Your GP may ask whether you have fever, unexplained weight loss, a persistent cough, pain, breathing changes, palpitations or other symptoms. They may also ask about your periods, pregnancy where relevant, medical history and any medicines or supplements you take.
Track enough to describe the pattern
You do not need to record every episode. A few notes over several days can help you explain what is happening and what affects you most.
- When the flushes or sweats happen
- How long they last and how intense they feel
- Whether they wake you or soak clothing or bedding
- Your period pattern and other menopause symptoms
- Possible triggers such as stress, alcohol, caffeine, spicy food or hot drinks
- Fever, weight change, pain, cough, breathing symptoms or anything else new
- Medicines, supplements and recent treatment changes
Ask about ways to manage the symptoms
You may already want to ask about HRT or MHT, non-hormonal options, or changes that may make the episodes easier to manage. You may also simply want the GP to explain the choices. Either approach is fine.
A HerDoc GP can assess the symptoms and discuss HRT or MHT, non-hormonal options and other approaches with you. The consultation can include an individual treatment decision, or the GP may ask for blood tests, records, an examination or follow-up first.
Testing depends on the question
Hot flushes and night sweats do not mean everyone needs a blood test. For many people at the usual age of menopause, the symptom and period pattern provide more useful information than routine hormone levels. A GP may discuss tests when symptoms start younger, the pattern is unusual, another cause needs to be explored or more information would change the next step.
If detailed testing questions are on your mind, the blood-tests page explains when tests may or may not help.
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 for severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, fainting, confusion, immediate danger or another severe symptom.
- Persistent night sweats with fever or unexplained weight loss
- Persistent cough, diarrhoea or pain in one area
- New or rapidly worsening symptoms needing examination or immediate tests
Related pages
FAQs
Are hot flushes and night sweats the same thing?
They are closely related. A hot flush is a sudden episode of heat, flushing or sweating, while a night sweat is a hot flush or heavy sweating that happens during sleep. Night sweats may wake you or soak clothing and bedding.
Can hot flushes happen during perimenopause?
Yes. Hot flushes can begin during perimenopause, when periods may still be occurring but their pattern is changing. They may continue through menopause and for some time afterwards.
Can hot flushes start before my periods stop?
Yes. Menopause symptoms often begin before the final period. Mention your current period pattern and when the flushes began so the GP can consider the timing alongside other symptoms.
Can night sweats disrupt sleep?
Yes. Night sweats can wake you, make it difficult to settle again and leave you tired or irritable the next day. The menopause sleep page provides more detail if sleep disruption is your main concern.
How should I describe hot flushes or night sweats to a GP?
Describe the sudden heat or sweating in your own words, including where it starts, how long it lasts and how often it happens. Mention whether you wake, need to change clothes or bedding, or notice palpitations, fever, pain, cough or breathing changes.
What should I track before the appointment?
A short record of timing, frequency, intensity, possible triggers and sleep disruption can help. Also have your period pattern, current medicines and any other new symptoms handy.
Can stress or anxiety make flushing feel worse?
Yes. Stress or anxiety can trigger hot flushes or make the sensation more noticeable for some people. Because anxiety and flushing can each have more than one cause, talk through when they happen and whether they seem connected.
Could something other than menopause cause these symptoms?
Yes. Thyroid conditions, low blood sugar, infections, stress, anxiety and other health conditions can contribute to flushing or sweating. Persistent night sweats or additional symptoms deserve medical review rather than being assumed to be menopause.
Can medicines contribute to flushing or sweating?
Yes. Some medicines can contribute to flushing or night sweats. Have your medicine list handy and ask the GP whether timing, a recent change or an interaction may be relevant; do not stop a medicine without medical advice.
Can I discuss hot flushes and night sweats with an online GP?
Yes. You can talk with a HerDoc GP about the episodes, your period pattern, other symptoms and how they affect your day or sleep. The GP can discuss possible explanations and whether treatment questions, tests or an examination should be considered.
Will I need blood tests?
Not necessarily. Blood tests are not routinely needed for every menopause symptom discussion, but a GP may recommend testing when age, history, an unusual symptom pattern or another possible cause makes it useful.
Can I discuss HRT or non-hormonal options online?
Yes. You can ask about HRT or MHT, non-hormonal options and lifestyle or behavioural approaches for hot flushes and night sweats. The GP can assess your symptoms and health history and explain which treatment or further assessment may be appropriate; no particular treatment is promised before the consultation.
Will treatment be provided after the first consultation?
It can. After assessing your symptoms and health history, the GP may prescribe or recommend a treatment during the first consultation. The GP may instead ask for blood tests, records, an examination or follow-up before deciding.
When do hot flushes or night sweats need in-person assessment?
Arrange face-to-face assessment when symptoms are persistent and unexplained, when an examination is needed or when night sweats occur with fever, unexplained weight loss, persistent cough, diarrhoea or localised pain. A GP can also direct you to local care if the pattern cannot be adequately assessed online.
What symptoms mean I should seek urgent care?
Call 000 for severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, fainting, confusion or immediate danger. Seek prompt local medical help for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms rather than waiting for a routine menopause appointment.