Vasomotor symptoms (VMS)

Vasomotor symptoms are the hot flashes and night sweats of the menopause transition, caused by unstable control of body temperature as estrogen levels fall.

A vasomotor episode typically begins as a sudden sense of heat in the chest, neck and face, followed by flushing, sweating and sometimes chills or a racing heartbeat, lasting a few minutes. When they occur during sleep they are called night sweats and are a common cause of nighttime awakenings. VMS affect a majority of women in perimenopause and menopause, and for some they continue for years. Clinicians assess frequency, severity and interference with daily life, often with a symptom diary, and rule out other causes such as thyroid disease or medication effects.

The term is used in research and prescribing information because it describes the mechanism rather than one symptom. Cannabinoids have been surveyed in menopausal women and studied in early trials, but the research is limited and no cannabinoid has an approved use for vasomotor symptoms.