Hot flashes after 60: how long they last and when to get them checked

Name: Hot flashes after 60: how long they last and when to get them checked
Creator: MenoWoman

Hot flashes after 60 are common: in one large Australian study, reports say about 4 in 10 women aged 60 to 65 still had them, and about 1 in 15 had moderate to severe flashes. Most are a long tail of menopause, but new or worsening flashes at this age should be checked, because medicines and other conditions can cause them.

Researched by the MenoWoman team. Edited by Marcela Sat. Updated 7 November 2026. We may earn from links.

See a doctor if hot flashes or sweats start years after they had stopped, or come with fever, unexplained weight loss, swollen glands, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or loud snoring with daytime sleepiness.⁴ Also report any bleeding after menopause.

How long do hot flashes last?

Often longer than expected. The US SWAN study followed 3,302 women. Frequent hot flashes and night sweats lasted a median of 7.4 years in total.¹

They continued for a median of 4.5 years after the last period.¹ Women whose hot flashes started early, before periods became irregular, had them longest. For them, the total was over 11.8 years.¹ Women whose flashes only began after their last period had the shortest spell, a median of 3.4 years.¹

Duration also differed by background. The median was 10.1 years for African American women and 8.9 years for Hispanic women. It was 6.5 years for white women and around 5 years for Chinese and Japanese women.¹

Hot flashes after 60 and in your 70s

An Australian study of 2,020 women aged 40 to 65 looked at symptoms by age. It was published in the journal Menopause in 2015.⁶ About 6.5% of postmenopausal women aged 60 to 65 had moderate to severe hot flashes (hot flushes in UK terms).⁶ Reports of the study say that 42% of this age group had at least some hot flashes.²

Few were treated. Across the whole study, only 5.9% of women used hormone therapy and 0.7% used a non-hormonal prescription medicine.⁶ The authors concluded that menopause symptoms are undertreated.⁶ Many older women also had vaginal and sexual symptoms, which can be treated at any age.^2,3 See vaginal dryness.

Hot flashes can also come back after stopping hormone therapy. In the large Women's Health Initiative trials, about 55% of women who had hot flashes at the start and took hormones reported symptoms after stopping. This compared with about 21% of those who took a placebo.⁷ Trials have not shown that tapering off slowly, rather than stopping at once, changes whether flashes return.⁷ If flashes come back after a long gap, or are new for you, a check-up is worthwhile.

Other causes to rule out at this age

After 60, a doctor is more likely to look for other reasons for flushing or sweating. Possible causes include:⁴

Medicines, including some antidepressants, diabetes medicines and hormone treatments.
An overactive thyroid.
Sleep apnea, where breathing stops and starts in sleep.
Infections, such as tuberculosis or an infection of the heart lining.
Alcohol use and anxiety disorders.
Rarely, lymphoma, leukemia or hormone-producing tumors.

Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of hot flashes. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether a medicine could be the cause.

Treatment options after 60

Hormone therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for hot flashes. The Menopause Society says it does not need to be stopped routinely at 60 or 65.³ It can be continued beyond 65 for persistent hot flashes after a review of benefits and risks.³

The balance of benefit and risk is most favorable for healthy women under 60, or within 10 years of menopause. Trial data on use after 60 or 65 are limited.³ Starting hormone therapy for the first time at this age is a more careful decision, as risk depends on age and time since menopause.³ Patches and gels, and lower doses, may carry a lower risk of blood clots and stroke.³

Women who cannot or prefer not to use hormones can ask about non-hormonal prescription treatments. Availability differs by country. Simple steps may make you more comfortable, though The Menopause Society does not recommend cooling or avoiding triggers as treatments:⁵

Dress in layers you can remove quickly.
Keep the bedroom cool and use a fan.
Notice your own triggers, such as alcohol, hot drinks or a warm room.

At night, hot flashes become night sweats and can break up sleep, so treating them may help sleep too. See hot flashes and hormone therapy.

What helps: options rated

Option	Evidence	What the research shows
Hormone therapy (HRT)	Strong evidence	The most effective treatment for hot flashes. After 60 it needs a personal review of benefits and risks, and trial data in this age group are limited.³
Non-hormonal prescription medicines	Strong evidence	The Menopause Society's 2023 position statement recommends several, including some antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs), gabapentin, oxybutynin and fezolinetant.⁵ Which ones are available depends on the country.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)	Strong evidence	Recommended for hot flashes in The Menopause Society's 2023 position statement, alongside clinical hypnosis.⁵ It is a non-drug option at any age.
Vaginal estrogen (for vaginal and urinary symptoms)	Strong evidence	Does not treat hot flashes, but can be used at any age, and for longer if needed, for dryness and urinary symptoms.³
Reviewing medicines and other causes	Some evidence	Several medicines and conditions, from thyroid problems to sleep apnea, can cause flushing and sweats, so a check is advised for new or late symptoms.⁴
Layers, a cool room and a fan	Weak evidence	Low risk and may make you more comfortable, but The Menopause Society's 2023 position statement does not recommend cooling techniques or avoiding triggers as treatments.⁵

Ratings explained: how we rate. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist before starting a medicine or supplement.