Hot Flashes Before Period: What You Need to Know

While most people associate hot flashes with menopause (the stopping of monthly periods), some women can also get them as part of their menstrual cycle (period).

About 1 in 10 women with regular periods experience hot flashes, while more than 4 in 10 women have hot flashes in the first years after menopause, according to a study.

This article will discuss hot flashes before your period, symptoms, causes, management, and more.

What Causes Hot Flashes Before a Period?

Dropping estrogen levels leading up to a period are believed to be the cause of hot flashes or night sweats before a period. Hormone levels change throughout the menstrual cycle and help build up the uterine lining, and then release it in the bleeding that occurs with your monthly period.

Scientists believe that a drop in estrogen may affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for keeping your body temperature stable. It may be an overreaction of the body to a slight increase in your body temperature.

When your brain senses your body temperature rising, it causes blood vessels all over the body to dilate (get bigger) to try to cool your body. The medical term for a hot flash is vasomotor symptoms.

Do Hot Flashes Mean Menopause?

Most women find that period hot flashes occur as they enter perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, when a woman’s fertility (ability to have a baby) begins to gradually decrease, but she continues to have a period. Part of the normal changes as you near menopause is for the female reproductive system to make fewer eggs and release fewer hormones as you age.

As your body begins to age, it is normal for hormone levels to be less reliable, and the time between periods and the amount of bleeding often change.

Other Causes of Hot Flashes

The medical community continues to learn more about hormones and hot flashes. Hormone cycles are very complex and studied by special doctors called endocrinologists. There are ongoing studies looking at other hormones and signaling chemicals within the body.

Although commonly associated with menopause and perimenopause, hot flashes and night sweats can also sometimes occur for other reasons. Hot flashes may occur as a side effect of certain medications or supplements or may be due to other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or anxiety.

Symptoms of Hot Flashes

Symptoms of or associated with hot flashes include:

• Warm body temperature
• Sweat
• Flushed skin
• Anxiety
• Chills

During a hot flash, the upper half of your body will suddenly feel very hot, sweaty, and may become flushed. Generally, hot flashes during your period last from half a minute to several minutes.

Some people have hot flashes only once a day, and some have them much more often. As the body cools off, the moisture from sweating can lead to chills or damp clothing. If the hot flashes happen at night, they may cause night sweats due to the intense heat.

How to Manage Hot Flashes

Hot flashes can be uncomfortable, but they are generally not dangerous. Because of this, healthcare providers will recommend focusing on symptom management. Unfortunately, there are no known ways to completely prevent hot flashes.

Staying cool may help you reduce how many hot flashes you have. When a hot flash happens, try to cool your body down. Possible techniques include:

• Wearing layers and removing extra clothing
• Using a fan to cool your body
• Eating cool foods
• Drinking cool drinks
  

Medications

Estrogen or progesterone supplements, also called hormone therapy (HT), have been frequently prescribed to manage hot flashes. However, there are certain conditions that make HT unsafe including stroke, breast cancer, and liver disease.

Antidepressant medications that increase the brain chemical serotonin have been helpful in managing hot flashes for some people. Doctors and scientists continue to study what works best for managing vasomotor symptoms.

Lifestyle Changes

You may want to consider lifestyle changes as your first approach to managing your hot flashes. Look for patterns in your food, activity, and lifestyle that may help you see what is triggering hot flashes. You may then be able to reduce or eliminate these to improve your symptoms.

Research shows that many of the previously believed lifestyle factors like alcohol, exercise, and diet have mixed evidence as risk factors. However, smoking and anxiety have a strong connection to hot flashes. Track your own experience and decide what works best for your body.

If you are overweight or obese, it can be more common to have hot flashes. Other research shows that maintaining a healthy weight can reduce hormonal hot flashes.

Alternative Treatments

Researchers continue to study alternative treatments to reduce or manage hot flashes. Unfortunately, there are no therapies that are consistently effective in the research. The North American Menopause Society position statement indicates there is no research evidence for yoga, exercise, acupuncture, herbal supplements, or relaxation as a way to manage hot flashes.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most of the time, while hot flashes can be very uncomfortable and distressing, they are not usually a sign of a medical problem. Although there is generally no reason to be concerned by hot flashes, sometimes they can be a symptom of other conditions, so it is important to check with your healthcare provider if you start to experience them as part of your cycle.

Both of these conditions must be diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on period changes and blood tests. Neither of these is very common, but good communication with your healthcare team is the best way to address any concerns you may have.

Summary

Hot flashes, when you suddenly feel sweaty and flushed, is most often a symptom that menopause is near. However, you may find that you experience period hot flashes much earlier in life as part of your normal cycle. Some of the ways to manage hot flashes is to avoid spicy foods, drink cool beverages, and limit caffeine. Hot flashes are usually not medically concerning, but discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.

A Word From Verywell

Hot flashes can be disruptive and feel embarrassing, especially if you end up soaked in sweat at work or the grocery store. Hot flashes are a normal part of life for almost half of women, but there are things that can help you manage them. Reach out to your healthcare team and see what they might recommend for you.