Why would a man have hot flashes?
Let's be honest; only pregnant or menopausal women have hot flashes. Okay, not so fast. While waking up drenched in sweat or dripping in the middle of winter may be something only women seem to experience or people care to write about, men have them too.
Now, you're probably wondering, "Why would a man have hot flashes?" For both men and women, hormones are to blame. In this article, we'll tell you the most common reasons for hot flashes and possible treatments to help stop them from occurring.
What are hot flashes?
Hot flashes are the feeling of intense heat that occurs not connected to any environmental factors. The temperature of the room may be average, you haven't just run a mile or anything related to an external influence, yet, all of a sudden, you're drenched in sweat. Most commonly, hot flashes occur at night, and the intense heat wakes you up.
Cancer treatment
Conventional treatment for prostate cancer is androgen deprivation therapy. This treatment lowers testosterone production to stop cancer cell growth. 80% of all men undergoing therapy experience hot flashes. (1)
Low testosterone
Testosterone is the male sex hormone produced primarily in the testes. As men age, levels typically taper off every year after age 30. (2)
While it’s a normal part of the life cycle, low testosterone levels may cause insomnia, weight gain, weak muscles, and hot flashes, among other symptoms. The causes of low testosterone vary and may be a part of aging or indicate a serious health concern.
Mental health concerns
Anxiety, depression, and low sex drive are also other indicators of living with low testosterone. Feeling anxious or depressed may result in extreme mood swings, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and hot flashes. All of which can be linked to low testosterone.
Treatments for hot flashes
The treatment choice depends on the man’s condition, but the main goal is to reach balanced testosterone levels.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
TRT replaces the missing hormones with natural ones. Treatment comes in different forms, including testosterone creams and injections. Before starting treatment, meet with your doctor to determine the right dose for your body. (3)
Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
Men who have hot flashes from androgen deprivation therapy shouldn't take testosterone since it may increase cancer cell growth. Instead, female hormones may alleviate the symptoms. In one study, reported by Harvard Health, supplementing with estradiol (an estrogen) alleviated hot flashes for 83% of participants. (1)
Hot flashes may be constant or sporadic for some men. But when they occur, the experience isn’t pleasant. Usually, the reason for hot flashes is due to low testosterone. TRT replaces the depleted hormone and chases away the profuse sweating. ERT is another option for those undergoing cancer treatments. If all else fails, a healthy diet and regular exercise may improve hot flashes.
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Hot-flashes-in-men-An-update.htm
- https://www.webmd.com/men/features/low-testosterone-explained-how-do-you-know-when-levels-are-too-low#1
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/drugs-and-medications/testosterone--what-it-does-and-doesnt-do#:~:text=Problems%20associated%20with%20abnormally%20high,Prostate%20enlargement%20with%20difficulty%20urinating
