Menopausal flush symptomatology and sustained reflex vasoconstriction

Reflex vasoconstriction was examined using the digital vasoconstrictor response to ice application in 102 postmenopausal women. Women experiencing hot flushes tended to lack the normal vasoconstrictor response whereas women with lower flush symptomatology tended to have a vasoconstrictor response. There was a significant relationship between the percentage occurrence of a vasoconstrictor response and both the daily flush score (P less than 0.001) and subjective severity of flushes (P less han 0.001).