During which stage are Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) more likely to occur?

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), which include hot flashes and night sweats, are most commonly associated with the perimenopausal stage of menopause. This stage is marked by hormonal fluctuations, particularly in estrogen levels, as the body transitions toward menopause.

Stage 1b corresponds to perimenopause, where the incidence of VMS increases due to these hormonal changes. Women may experience irregularities in their menstrual cycles as their ovaries produce varying amounts of estrogen. As a result, this stage is associated with the onset of VMS, making it the stage where these symptoms are most likely to manifest.

In contrast, other stages may have different characteristics. For example, Stage 1a typically represents the early reproductive years when women are less likely to experience VMS, and Stage 2 usually marks the transition into menopause itself, which may see a decrease in the frequency of hot flashes as the body adapts to lower estrogen levels. Stage 3 signifies postmenopause, where while some women may still experience VMS, it tends to occur less frequently as the body stabilizes after the significant hormonal changes of perimenopause. Thus, Stage 1b is identified as the primary stage for the occurrence of vasomotor symptoms due to