MS and Hot Flashes: How Menopause Impacts Multiple Sclerosis

 By Nancy LeBrun  – Published on June 06, 2022

 Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD

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Menopause is a universal part of aging for women. During menopause, the body produces less of the hormone estrogen. A person’s menstrual cycle fluctuates and then stops, and other changes and symptoms will occur.

Women who have multiple sclerosis (MS) may find their MS symptoms are similar to those of menopause, though the experience varies from person to person. There may be other connections between MS and menopause as well.

This article reviews the overlapping symptoms of MS and menopause and potential treatments for symptoms in menopausal women with MS.

Menopause or MS Flare: Overlapping Symptoms

During menopause, which most women experience between the ages of 45 and 55, lower estrogen levels can cause symptoms that can resemble an MS flare     (a time of new or worsening symptoms).1

Both menopause and MS can affect:2

• Mood and anxiety levels
• Clarity of thinking
• Sleep patterns
• Bladder function
• Sensitivity to heat
• Pain or difficulty during intercourse

Worsening MS Symptoms During Menopause

Some studies have shown that some women with MS felt their symptoms worsened during menopause.3

A condition called Uhthoff’s phenomenon in which MS symptoms worsen when body temperature rises, may be linked to menopausal hot flashes.4 The evidence is not conclusive, however, and more research is needed to establish whether menopause worsens MS symptoms among some women.

Changes in MS symptoms may also be due to:5

• Low levels of vitamin D
• Aging
• Smoking
• Changes in treatment

Not all women with MS experience more severe symptoms while going through menopause, and there is no test to confirm that hot flashes are causing the flares. You can, however, have a blood test to check hormone levels to confirm whether you are going through menopause.

MS Relief After Menopause

There’s some potentially good news for women with MS. Preliminary research has indicated that relapses become less frequent after menopause.6 At the same time, it does not seem to have an effect on the progression of the disease.

Studies so far have not drawn a complete picture, and more research is needed to understand the relationship between MS and menopause.

MS and Hot Flashes

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