39 and been told I have POF.How do I deal with hot flushes!

[SugarAndSpice24]

Ladies I have been told I have Possible Ovarian Failure.My periods were regular funny enough but now I am having hot flushes and no period.I am not pregnant.How do I deal with the random hot flushes?I could just be having a conversation or stood a que at the shops and my hot flush comes on.Is there anything I can eat to control it?

Have you talked to your doctor about HRT? (I know there are issues with obtaining HRT at the moment).

In terms of diet, it's more about avoiding foods in my experience - alcohol can trigger hot flushes as can spicy foods or eating a very large/heavy meal. Eating little and often so you don't overload your system and have spikes and falls in your blood sugar can help.

Wearing layers of clothing so you can easily take something off is also a good practical tip. If you work in an office with over-warm air conditioning, see if you can get a desk or USB fan.

Forgot to add - it's worth jotting down what you've most recently eaten if you have a bout of particularly bad flushes, so you can identify your own triggers. I hope you find a way to manage this, OP.

HRT made the world of difference to me (34, in menopause due to surgery) but I had to try a few different types until I got the right one, and there are shortages of some which isn't great. I also take menopace vitamins which helps. In the short-term, I found wet wipes useful; something cooling on the face and neck brought a bit of relief. Obviously make sure they're suitable if you've sensitive skin. And, at night, I recommend a chillow (I have 2, so that I can switch them over midway through the night if I need to).

Yep I know I am intolerant of certain foods and hot flushes are just a new method of showing it. It has really made me mind my diet like nothing else has.

I spoke to the docter about trying the HRT but my FSH levels are too high apprantley.

@WhoTellsYourStory what vitamins are you taking?

@SugarAndSpice24 Menopace it's called - www.vitabiotics.com/menopace. I take the original one but there are lots of variations which I'm now thinking about!

Thankyou so much ladies and @WhoTellsYourStory I will try those vitamins.Thankyou once again.

I had a couple of years of medical menopause in my 20s caused by an endometriosis treatment. The hot flushes were unbearable and very extreme as there was no gradual reduction in hormones, but there’s some really good options now.

The main thing I’m thinking of is a cooling towel. You wet it with cold water, wring it out and then put it round your neck, over your head, wherever you want to cool down. It’s some science magic I don’t understand but it stays really cold for ages. There are tons on amazon etc.

Get a Chillow - similar idea but in pillow form.

Also, I used to use a cold water spray in a can for similar results. These other options may be more helpful and sustainable though.

I would ask for a referral to a specialist (endocrinologist?) in your area. GPs often lack the specialist knowledge to support women in this aspect of health care.

Endocrinologists (disturbingly) don’t seem too hot on female hormones - most of their work is in diabetes. Neither are most gynaecologists.

However, if you have the funds there are multiple gynaes in private practice who specialise in female hormone imbalance. You shouldn’t have to go private though - premature ovarian insufficiency / failure is a medical condition and manageable with HRT. I’m not sure why having higher FSH rules out HRT though?

You could ask your brother in law to give you a sponge down, gentle massage and feed you some cake.