Absence of sustained reflex vasoconstriction in women with menopausal flushes

Reflex vasoconstriction was examined using the digital vasoconstrictor response to ice application in 10 flushing and six non-flushing menopausal women, 22 premenopausal women and eight men. Nine of the 10 women experiencing flushes lacked the vasoconstrictor response which was present in all the other groups examined, suggesting an abnormality of autonomic nervous control. Our observation is of particular interest since it has previously not been possible to apply any biochemical or biophysical tests which differentiate flushing from non-flushing subjects except during an actual flush.