Editing Hot flash (section)

== Mechanism ==
Research on hot flashes is mostly focused on treatment options.  The exact cause and [[pathogenesis]], or causes, of [[vasomotor]] symptoms (VMS)—the clinical name for hot flashes—has not yet been fully studied.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Utian | first = Wulf H. | name-list-style = vanc | title =Recent Developments in Pharmacotherapy for Vasomotor Symptoms | journal =Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports | volume =1 | issue =2 | pages =43–49 | date = 2012-06-01 | issn = 2161-3303 | doi = 10.1007/s13669-012-0009-4 | doi-access =free }}</ref><ref name="pmid12440557">{{cite journal | vauthors = Shanafelt TD, Barton DL, Adjei AA, Loprinzi CL | title = Pathophysiology and treatment of hot flashes | journal = Mayo Clinic Proceedings | volume = 77 | issue = 11 | pages = 1207–18 | date = November 2002 | pmid = 12440557 | doi = 10.4065/77.11.1207 }}</ref>

Hot flashes are associated with declining levels of estrogen (estrogen withdrawal) and other hormonal changes.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Freedman RR | title = Menopausal hot flashes: mechanisms, endocrinology, treatment | journal = The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | volume = 142 | pages = 115–20 | date = July 2014 | pmid = 24012626 | pmc = 4612529 | doi = 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.08.010 | url = | series = Current Views of Hormone Therapy for Management and Treatment of Postmenopausal Women }}</ref> It does not appear that low levels of estrogen are the sole cause of hot flashes, as women who experience hot flashes have around the same plasma estrogen levels as women who do not have them, and prepubertal girls do not have hot flashes despite low estrogen levels.<ref name=":0" />

There are indications that hot flashes may be due to a change in the [[hypothalamus]]'s control of temperature regulation.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Spetz AC, Zetterlund EL, Varenhorst E, Hammar M | title = Incidence and management of hot flashes in prostate cancer | journal = The Journal of Supportive Oncology | volume = 1 | issue = 4 | pages = 263–6, 269-70, 272-3; discussion 267-8, 271-2 | date = November–December 2003 | pmid = 15334868 }}</ref>

[[Transgender]] men also commonly report experiences of hot flashes.<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors= Moustakli E, Tsonis O| title=Exploring Hormone Therapy Effects on Reproduction and Health in Transgender Individuals | journal = Medicina| volume = 59 | issue = 12 | page = 2094 | date = 29 November 2023 | doi = 10.3390/medicina59122094 | doi-access=free | pmid=38138197 | pmc = 10744413 }}</ref> This is linked to hormonal changes possible from many aspects of masculinizing gender-affirming care, including the use of [[gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist]]s as [[puberty blocker]]s,<ref>{{cite journal | last = Magon | first = Navneet | name-list-style = vanc | title=Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists: Expanding vistas|journal=Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism| volume=15 | issue=2 | pages=261–267| date = Oct–Dec 2011 | doi=10.4103/2230-8210.85575| doi-access = free | pmid = 22028996 | pmc = 3193774 }}</ref> reduction of estrogen levels after having undergone [[oopherectomy]],<ref>{{cite journal | last = Casimiro | first = Isabel | name-list-style = vanc | title=Severe Vasomotor Symptoms Post-Oophorectomy Despite Testosterone Therapy in a Transgender Man: A Unique Case Study| journal=Journal of the Endocrine Society | volume =3 | issue=4|pages =743–736|date=13 February 2019|doi=10.1210/js.2018-00367| pmid = 30931422 | pmc = 6436763 }}</ref> and long term testosterone use reducing production of estradiols.<ref>{{cite journal| vauthors = Mueller A, Haeberle L, Zollver H, Claassen T, Kronawitter D, Oppelt PG, Cupisti S, Beckmann MW, Dittrich R | title=Effects of Intramuscular Testosterone Undecanoate on Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density in Female-to-Male Transsexuals | journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine | volume=7 | issue=9|pages=3190–3198|date=1 September 2010|doi=10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01912.x| pmid=20584125 |url=https://academic.oup.com/jsm/article-abstract/7/9/3190/6848280| url-access=subscription}}</ref>