Can PMS Cause Hot Flashes? Yes, But There Are Remedies
Many of us have stopped to wonder: Can PMS cause hot flashes? Indeed it can — and it may worry you the first few times it happens. But the good news is that it’s completely normal, especially if you’re a woman going through perimenopause, the time in which a woman’s ovaries gradually begin to make less estrogen. Perimenopause usually begins in a woman’s 40s, but it can start in her 30s or even earlier in some cases.
Take a look at the question we got from an anonymous reader who was worried about her hot flashes, and who noticed a pattern that aligned with her menstrual cycle: “I’m 46 and I’m still having regular periods, but I recently started getting hot flashes. They occur a few days before my period, along with my other PMS symptoms. Is this normal?”
Can PMS cause hot flashes?
In a word, yes. In fact, this is extremely common. The hot flashes are caused by the sharp decline in estrogen and progesterone levels that occurs just before your period. Hot flashes before your period don’t necessarily mean you’re in perimenopause, but it is a sign that it may be approaching. As you may know, hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth that are usually most intense over the face, neck, and chest. They are caused by blood vessel dilation and the body’s attempt to dissipate the heat and lower the temperature. Your skin might redden, as if you’re blushing. Hot flashes can also cause sweating, and if you lose too much body heat, you might feel chilly afterward.
How to Treat Hot Flashes During Your Period
A few “go-to” supplements for hot flashes are black cohosh and evening primrose oil, which can help ease symptoms in four weeks. You can also try eating more soy the week before your period to help balance estrogen and progesterone. And when you feel a hot flash coming on, try applying cool water, aloe vera gel, or peppermint oil to your wrists and the back of your neck. Many women say these strategies help relieve the discomfort. But if these menopause remedies don’t ease your hot flashes after two months, see your OB-GYN for more options.
More from FIRST
Here’s How to Clean Your Private Parts
3 Smells ‘Down There’ That You Shouldn’t Ignore
That Summertime Itch ‘Down There’ Might Not Be a Yeast Infection
