These flashes last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. How often they occur varies from woman to woman. Women who have had a hysterectomy are more likely to have hot flashes. Many women experience most of their hot flashes in the first 2 years after menopause, and find that the hot flashes gradually lessen. However, some women have hot flashes for several years before menopause, and some have them for 10, 20, or even 40 years or longer after menopause

Hot flashes can affect a woman's social life and work. Also, hot flashes that occur during the night can disrupt sleep. In fact, some women report that their bedsheets become dampened or even soaked with sweat when they have a hot flash during the night.