Hot flushes, menstrual status, and hormone levels in a population-based sample of midlife women

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of hot flushes in a population sample of 453 pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women (aged 48-59 years), and to investigate the relationship of hot-flush reporting with menstrual status, serum levels of estradiol (E2), inhibin, and FSH, history of premenstrual complaints, and physical and life-style factors. Methods: We used a population-based sample. Interviews were conducted in the women's homes. Results: Frequency of hot-flush reporting was associated with menstrual status (P < .001). Twenty-nine percent of women who had more than 3 and less than 12 months of amenorrhea, and 37% of postmenopausal women experienced hot flushes several times a day. In tot..