While up to 85% of women in menopause report having hot flashes, cold flashes may also occur.
Hormonal imbalances are the primary cause of cold flashes, and they can be as disruptive as hot flashes. A cold flash is a sudden surge of coldness that spreads all over the body, often causing shivering and pale skin. A cold flash is temporary, lasting for only a few minutes.
Cold flashes are due to the fluctuating hormones during perimenopause and menopause, causing the “thermostat” in your brain (the hypothalamus) to become dysfunctional. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment to relieve menopausal cold flashes.