Starting in the center of the body, a flash of heat spreads like a wall of flame to the top of the head, flushing the face, neck and arms a fiery red, and making skin warm to the touch. The flash can last from seconds to 30 minutes and is accompanied by increased heart rate, shallow breathing, and sweating. A chill and exhaustion usually follow. Hot flashes can occur as many as 50 times a day. Because of these sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue can become a problem.
Sex often becomes painful.
Urinary incontinence may also become a problem. Some women's bodies may produce the tiny amount needed through the adrenal glands. Many women, however, lose all testosterone, and with it their sex drive. A Woman Doctor's Guide to Menopause. Since women today live an average of 35 years longer than they did 150 years ago, scientists have only recently come to understand the long-term outcomes of living without the protective effects of estrogen.