Menopausal-like hot flashes reported in women of reproductive age☆

Objective: To report the occurrence of menopausal-like hot flashes in women of reproductive age (18–45 years).

Design: Observational, prospective cohort study with a retrospective survey component.

Setting: Tertiary care premenstrual syndrome (PMS) clinic and university campus.

Patient(s): Patients with confirmed PMS (n = 157) were compared with those with chronic menstrual cycle–related symptoms (n = 27). Women without menstrual cycle–related symptoms were solicited as controls (n = 58).

Intervention(s): None.

Main Outcome Measure(s): The frequency of episodes of chills and sweats and the magnitude of menstrual cycle–related symptoms were recorded over one cycle using the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstrual Symptomatology (PRISM) Calendar. Characteristics of the episodes of chills and sweats were ascertained by a retrospective questionnaire.

Result(s): In each group, the frequency of episodes of chills and sweats closely patterned the mean daily PRISM Calendar scores. At least one episode of chills and sweats was reported by 83.4% of the PMS group and 81.5% of the chronic group compared with 43.1% of the control group. The mean (±SD) number of episodes per cycle was 5.6 ± 4.9 for the PMS group and 9.5 ± 9.1 for the chronic group compared with 1.2 ± 2.0 for the control group (the difference between all means was statistically significant).

Conclusion(s): Episodes of chills and sweats similar to menopausal hot flashes were commonly reported by women with cyclic and chronic menstrual cycle–related symptoms.