Absence of menstruation, vaginal dryness, mood or sleep disorders… Around the age of 50, menopause is accompanied by various more or less disabling symptoms in women. We also speak of vasomotor symptoms of menopause (VMS), including approximately 80% of postmenopausal women are affected. But what exactly are we talking about?
What are the vasomotor symptoms of menopause?
Vasomotor symptoms refer to two main symptoms of menopause: facial flushing (or hot flashes) and the night sweats. “We talk about vasomotor symptoms because they cause vasomotor problems: we sweat a lot, we turn very red, etc.”, indicates Professor Geneviève Plu-Bureau, medical gynecologist. These symptoms are characterized by a sudden feeling of heat.
During this period of great upheaval, they occur especially at night and can lead to more or less severe sleep disorders. “However, they can very well occur during the day and then prove to be socially disabling, especially when you turn red and start to sweat in the middle of a meeting, for example.”, continues the specialist.
All women can be affected. “Around 80% of women will experience vasomotor symptoms during or just before menopause (a period called menopause). perimenopauseEditor’s note) and 20% of women will never know them”, explains Pre Plu-Bureau.
How long do vasomotor symptoms of menopause last?
Their duration varies depending on the age and period at which they occur: these symptoms can occur before menopause, during perimenopause. If they start before, they can be present for a median duration of more than 9 years and are generally shorter if they arrive once menopause has set in, i.e. twelve consecutive months without menstruation.
But how long do the actual “crises” last? “The onset of symptoms will vary greatly from one woman to another.indicates the gynecologist. Hot flashes and night sweats usually last a few minutes but can be repeated up to 10 or 12 times per nightwith a strong impact on women’s sleep.”
Are there risks associated with vasomotor symptoms of menopause?
Gynecological referent of the association Acting for the hearts of women, Professor Geneviève Plu-Bureau warns about SVMs, which are a real marker of cardiovascular risk. “Having a lot of hot flashes increases vascular risk, particularly coronary and cerebral”, she warns.
“Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in womenfacing breast cancer”, she concludes, while emphasizing the importance of carrying out a complete cardiovascular and metabolic check-up when a postmenopausal woman suffers from frequent hot flashes.
Thanks to Professor Geneviève Plu-Bureau, head of the medical gynecology unit at Port-Royal Hospital in Paris.