Effects of symptomatic status and the menstrual cycle on hot flash-related thermoregulatory parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To compare core body temperature variation, sweating thresholds, and sweat rate in symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women and in eumenorrheic women in the follicular and luteal phases.


METHODS
Twelve symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic postmenopausal women and 12 eumenorrheic women were recorded in a temperature- and humidity-controlled laboratory during thermoneutral and warm conditions. Core body temperature variation was measured with an ingested radiotelemetry pill, basal body temperature with a rectal thermistor, skin temperature with four skin surface thermistors, and sweat rate with a capacitance hygrometer.


RESULTS
Symptomatic women had significantly lower sweating thresholds and higher maximum sweat rates compared with all other women. These results could not be explained by differences in estrogen, progesterone, or body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal women with hot flashes are uniquely characterized by low sweating thresholds and high sweat rates, relative to asymptomatic and eumenorrheic women.
Freedman
Robert R
RR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. aa2613@wayne.edu
Subramanian
Marappa
M
D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013546:Sweating
D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol