About
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As you enter perimenopause, your estrogen levels decrease. When your hypothalamus (the part of the brain that helps regulate body temperature) notices a small increase in your body’s temperature (like, as small as 1 to 3 degrees), it completely overreacts. Overreacts like that time your friend couldn’t find the absolute perfect dress for a date.
Your hypothalamus thinks you’re too hot and sends signals out to your body to help cool you down. These messengers oh-so-unhelpfully cause the blood vessels near your skin to dilate, which is supposed to help your body give off heat - never mind that you didn’t ask for this help.
What does your body do to give off heat? It sweats. And turns red. And can make your heart race. And can turn you into a generally unpleasant person.
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Approximately 60 % to 80 % of menopause sufferers (menopausers? menopaused?) experience vasomotor symptoms, commonly referred to as “hot flashes.” It is the most prevalent menopause symptom experienced. So we are all in this together.
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While it might seem incredibly obvious at the time, researchers actually found that many experiencing menopause believe they’re having a hot flash when they aren’t. Just as many experience hot flashes without realizing the physiological response that’s happening at that very moment.
There’s no single vasomotor symptom that tells you when you’re having a hot flash. But the collection of symptoms that can signal a hot flash often cause anxiety, stress, and worry - all of which can make your hot flashes worse.
Hot Flashes
Vesta’s Symptom Checklist, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, and other health jargon were reviewed by experts in obstetrics and gynecology and psychology.
Vesta Experts
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Licensed Professional Counselor
Dr. Corbin operates a private counseling practice, where she creates a safe and confidential space for self-exploration, healing, personal growth, and strengthening the mind-body connection. She uses a therapeutic approach grounded in mindfulness strategies, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
In addition to her practice, Dr. Corbin currently serves as the Chair and Director of the MS Counseling program and as an assistant professor in the School of Professional and Applied Psychology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where she teaches, advises, and mentors mental health counseling students.
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Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Dr. Kakaty-Monzo is a renowned vaginal health expert and a leader in the field of treating women in their peri- and post-menopausal years. She operates multiple private practices in the Philadelphia area and has been a pioneer in providing an innovative, non-hormonal, non-surgical procedure for vaginal health.
An expert in teaching, Dr. Kakaty-Monzo is the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a clinical professor, at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Kakaty-Monzo also serves as an attending physician in the resident teaching program in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Main Line Health—Lankenau Hospital.
Dr. Kakaty-Monzo is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Resources
Endocrine Society
Created by the industry association for endocrinologists, this site offers online and downloadable guides, support resources, and a Menopause Map.
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism
Written by Dr. Jen Gunter, this book is fun, informative, and will help you understand what the hell is happening to you.
North American Menopause Society
This site has excellent resources for individuals going through menopause, as well as the professionals who support them.
