Do Men Get Hot Flashes? What Edina Patients Need to Know
- Gary M. Rudashevsky, NP
- Nov 14
- 12 min read
Updated: Nov 17
Hot flashes aren't just for women. Men get them too. In fact, a 2023 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that 20% of men aged 50 and older experience hot flashes. That's 1 in 5 men.
These sudden waves of heat and sweating can be frustrating. They often happen because of low testosterone or other health problems. But here's the good news: hot flashes in men can be treated.
If you're dealing with hot flashes, you're not alone. This guide will help you understand what causes them, what symptoms to look for, and when to see a provider at Medical Specialists, PA in Edina.
Key Takeaways
Men can get hot flashes from low testosterone, male menopause, or certain medicines
Common signs include sudden heat, lots of sweating, fast heartbeat, and red skin (lasts 2-5 minutes)
40% of men over 45 have low testosterone, says the American Urological Association. This is the main cause of hot flashes in men
Treatment works well, including testosterone therapy, lifestyle changes, and medicine
See a doctor to find out what's causing your symptoms and get the right treatment
Starting treatment early helps you feel better faster and improves your energy and mood
What Causes Hot Flashes in Men?
Hot flashes happen when your body's temperature control system gets confused. This usually happens because of hormone problems, especially when testosterone levels drop. Your brain has a part called the hypothalamus that controls your body temperature. When your hormones change, this part of your brain becomes extra sensitive. It tells your body to cool down even when you're not hot.
Why Do Testosterone Levels Drop?
Testosterone goes down naturally as you get older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says testosterone drops by about 1% each year after age 30. This slow drop is normal. But some men lose testosterone faster than others.
Several things can make testosterone drop faster. Long-term stress raises a hormone called cortisol. High cortisol lowers testosterone. Being overweight also causes problems. Extra body fat changes testosterone into a different hormone called estrogen. Sleep problems, especially sleep apnea, stop your body from making testosterone while you sleep.
Health problems can lower testosterone too. Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and thyroid problems all mess with normal hormone production. At Medical Specialists in Edina, our doctors look at all these possible causes when you come in.
What Medical Treatments Cause Hot Flashes in Men?
Some cancer treatments for prostate cancer cause hot flashes. These treatments are called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). They lower testosterone on purpose to slow down cancer. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that 50-80% of men on this treatment get hot flashes.
Other medicines can cause hot flashes too. Some antidepressants, especially SSRIs, can mess with your body temperature. Pain medicines called opioids sometimes cause hot flashes. Some blood pressure medicines can also make you feel hot and flushed.
Chemotherapy and radiation for different types of cancer can damage the glands that make hormones. This causes sudden hormone changes that lead to hot flashes. If you're getting cancer treatment in Minneapolis, our team can help manage these side effects. We work with your cancer doctor to help you feel better.
What Are the Symptoms of Hot Flashes in Men?
Hot flashes feel different for each person. But they usually have the same basic pattern. You might feel a sudden wave of intense heat spread through your upper body and face. This heat can feel very uncomfortable. It usually lasts 30 seconds to 10 minutes. Most hot flashes last 2-5 minutes, says Harvard Medical School.
How Do I Know If I'm Having a Hot Flash?
Hot flashes usually start with warmth in your chest or neck. The heat quickly moves up to your face and head. Your skin might turn red. You may sweat a lot. Sometimes you sweat so much you need to change your shirt or use a towel.
Your heart might beat faster during a hot flash. Some men feel anxious or uncomfortable when it happens. You might feel dizzy. After the hot flash ends, you might feel cold as the sweat dries on your skin.
Hot flashes happen at different rates for different men. Some men get them once or twice a week. Others have several each day. Night sweats are hot flashes that happen while you sleep. They can wake you up and make you tired the next day.
What Other Symptoms Come with Male Hot Flashes?
Low testosterone often causes more problems than just hot flashes. The American Academy of Family Physicians says men with low testosterone usually feel tired and have low energy. You might notice less muscle and more body fat, especially around your belly.
Sex-related problems are common. Many men have less interest in sex, trouble getting or keeping an erection, and less satisfaction with sex. Mood changes are also frequent. You might feel more irritable, depressed, or have trouble focusing.
Other physical symptoms happen too. You might have trouble sleeping even without night sweats. Your bones can get weaker, making breaks more likely. Some men notice thinner hair on their head or body. At our Edina clinic, we look at all your symptoms together to understand your full health picture.
How Are Hot Flashes in Men Diagnosed?
Getting the right diagnosis starts with a full medical checkup. Your doctor will ask about your health history and any medicines you take. A physical exam helps find signs of hormone problems. Blood tests measure your testosterone and other important hormones.
What Tests Diagnose Male Hot Flashes?
Testing your total testosterone is the main test. The National Institutes of Health says you should test testosterone in the morning. That's when it's usually highest. Normal total testosterone is 300 to 1,000 ng/dL. But the best level is different for each person.
Free testosterone testing measures the active form of the hormone. This test is important. Some men have normal total testosterone but low free testosterone. Tests for LH and FSH help doctors figure out if the problem is in your testicles or your brain's pituitary gland.
Other tests rule out different problems. Thyroid tests check for thyroid issues that can look like low testosterone. Blood sugar tests check for diabetes. A complete blood count looks at your overall health. Medical Specialists in Edina has lab testing right in the office. This means faster results and easier care.
When Should I See a Doctor About Hot Flashes?
Call Medical Specialists in Edina if hot flashes mess up your sleep, work, or daily life. Get checked if hot flashes come with chest pain, bad dizziness, or trouble breathing. These symptoms could mean a heart problem, not a hormone issue. Get help right away.
See a doctor if hot flashes bother your sleep or hurt your work performance. The Mayo Clinic says you should get checked when hot flashes happen with other worrying symptoms. These include weight changes you can't explain, bad mood swings, or trouble with erections.
Don't wait if you have risk factors for low testosterone. Men with diabetes, extra weight, long-term stress, or sleep apnea should get tested early. Getting help early prevents other health problems and leads to better results.
What Treatments Help Male Hot Flashes?
Treatment depends on what's causing your hot flashes. For men with low testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) often helps a lot. The Lancet published research showing that 75% of men with low testosterone hot flashes feel better within 3-6 weeks of starting TRT.
How Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Work?
TRT brings testosterone back to normal levels. There are different ways to take it. Shots are the most common way. You get them once or twice a week at our Edina office. Gels that you rub on your shoulders or upper arms every day keep hormone levels steady. Pellets placed under your skin slowly release hormones for 3-6 months.
Each way of taking TRT has good points. Shots give exact doses and cost less. Gels keep levels steady every day without needles. Pellets mean fewer office visits and keep testosterone stable.
Medical Specialists in Edina focuses on hormone health for men. Our experienced doctors, including Gary Rudashevsky, APRN, have helped thousands of Twin Cities men balance their hormones. We check your progress often with regular blood tests. We adjust your treatment as needed to get the best results.
What Lifestyle Changes Reduce Hot Flashes?
Losing weight really helps with hot flashes and testosterone levels. A 2024 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found something interesting. Overweight men who lost just 5-10% of their body weight saw their testosterone go up by 15-20%. Regular exercise, especially lifting weights, naturally makes your body produce more testosterone.
Sleep quality matters a lot. Getting 7-9 hours of good sleep each night helps your body make hormones properly. Treating sleep apnea, if you have it, can bring testosterone back to normal in some men. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that treating sleep apnea improves testosterone in 25% of men who have it.
Learning to manage stress helps balance your hormones. Long-term stress keeps cortisol high. High cortisol lowers testosterone. Meditation, deep breathing, and regular exercise all lower stress hormones. Cutting back on alcohol is very important. Drinking too much lowers testosterone production.
What Medications Treat Hot Flashes in Men?
Some men can't take testosterone therapy. Other medicines can help them. Low-dose antidepressants, especially SSRIs or SNRIs, cut hot flashes by 50-60%. The Cleveland Clinic has seen good results with these medicines.
Gabapentin, a medicine used for seizures, works well for hot flashes. It's especially helpful for men getting prostate cancer treatment. The American Cancer Society says this medicine helps with hot flashes caused by ADT. Clonidine, a blood pressure medicine, might also help some men.
Herbal supplements have mixed results. Some men say black cohosh or soy helps them. But science hasn't proven these work well yet. Always talk to your doctor before taking supplements. They can interfere with your other medicines. Our team at Medical Specialists can help you find treatments that are proven to work.
Can Diet and Exercise Help Male Hot Flashes?
What you eat plays a big role in your hormone health. Eating foods that help your body make testosterone can reduce hot flashes. Research from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that men who eat enough healthy fats have better hormone production.
What Foods Support Healthy Testosterone Levels?
Foods high in protein help your body make hormones. Lean meats, fish, eggs, and beans give your body what it needs. Foods with lots of zinc like oysters, beef, and pumpkin seeds help make testosterone. The National Institutes of Health says that not having enough zinc is a common cause of low testosterone.
Healthy fats are very important for making hormones. Avocados, nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish give your body omega-3 fats. These fats reduce swelling in your body and help your hormone system work. Vitamin D, found in fatty fish and foods with added vitamins, is closely linked to testosterone levels.
Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts help your body process estrogen the right way. This stops testosterone from changing into estrogen. Avoid processed foods, too much sugar, and trans fats. These all hurt your hormone balance. Our nutrition help at Medical Specialists works with your hormone therapy to give you the best results.
How Does Exercise Impact Male Hot Flashes?
Lifting weights makes your body produce testosterone naturally. A 2023 study in Sports Medicine found that men who lift weights 3-4 times a week had 15-20% more testosterone. Big exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses give the best hormone benefits.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) also boosts testosterone. This means short bursts of hard exercise followed by rest. The American College of Sports Medicine says to do 20-30 minutes of HIIT 2-3 times a week.
Don't exercise too much. Too much exercise without enough rest can lower testosterone. Very long cardio workouts without rest days raise cortisol and lower testosterone. Balance your workouts with proper rest days. Moderate cardio for 30-45 minutes most days helps your heart without hurting your hormone levels.
What Is Andropause and How Does It Relate to Hot Flashes?
Andropause, sometimes called male menopause, is the slow drop in testosterone that happens as men get older. It's not like female menopause, which happens fast. Andropause happens slowly over many years. The American Academy of Family Physicians says andropause isn't as clear-cut as menopause. It's more like a group of hormone-related changes that come with age.
How Is Andropause Different from Female Menopause?
Women go through a fast, big drop in estrogen during menopause. This usually happens between ages 45-55. Men's testosterone drops slowly, usually starting around age 30 and going on for life. This slower drop means symptoms show up slowly. They can be harder to notice.
Not all men get bad andropause symptoms. Some men keep pretty high testosterone levels into their 70s and 80s. Your genes, lifestyle, and overall health affect how much your testosterone drops. Men who stay at a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and sleep well often keep better hormone levels.
The symptoms are a lot like female menopause. Hot flashes, mood changes, sleep problems, and sex problems affect both men and women going through hormone changes. But andropause doesn't stop fertility completely like female menopause does. Fertility does go down with age though.
When Does Andropause Typically Begin?
Most men start noticing andropause symptoms in their 40s or 50s. The Mayo Clinic says testosterone levels drop about 1% each year after age 30. By age 70, many men have testosterone levels that are 30-40% lower than when they were in their 20s.
Symptoms become noticeable when testosterone drops below your personal level. Some men feel symptoms when levels are in the 400s ng/dL. Others feel fine at 300 ng/dL. Your best level depends on your unique body and health history.
Getting help early makes a big difference. Men who fix low testosterone in their 40s or early 50s often have better long-term health. At Medical Specialists in Edina, we help men at any stage of andropause improve their hormone health and quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Male Hot Flashes
What Is the Difference Between Male and Female Hot Flashes?
Male and female hot flashes feel similar. Both cause sudden heat and sweating. But they have different causes. Female hot flashes happen because estrogen drops. Male hot flashes happen because testosterone drops. The North American Menopause Society says women usually get hot flashes more often and they're stronger. Treatment is different because different hormones are involved.
How Long Do Male Hot Flashes Last?
Each hot flash usually lasts 2-5 minutes. But they can be as short as 30 seconds or as long as 10 minutes. How long hot flashes keep happening varies a lot. Men on cancer treatment might have hot flashes the whole time they're on treatment. Men with low testosterone from aging often feel better within 4-8 weeks of starting treatment at Medical Specialists.
Can Stress Cause Hot Flashes in Men?
Yes. Long-term stress can cause hot flashes or make them worse. The American Psychological Association says stress raises cortisol. High cortisol lowers testosterone. This hormone change can cause hot flashes. Stress also makes you more aware of how your body feels. This might make hot flashes seem worse. Managing stress with exercise, meditation, or counseling often reduces symptoms.
Are Male Hot Flashes Dangerous?
Hot flashes themselves aren't dangerous. But they can be a sign of health problems that need treatment. Low testosterone raises your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and weak bones, says the American Heart Association. Sudden hot flashes with chest pain or trouble breathing might mean a heart problem. This needs emergency care. Call Medical Specialists in Edina to get checked if you have frequent or worrying hot flashes.
Will Hot Flashes Go Away on Their Own?
Hot flashes from temporary causes, like medicine side effects, might go away when you stop the medicine. But testosterone drops from aging don't get better without treatment. The Cleveland Clinic says untreated low testosterone symptoms usually stay the same or get worse over time. Treatment at our Edina practice can stop hot flashes or reduce them a lot. It also improves your overall health and energy.
Do All Men Get Hot Flashes as They Age?
No. Not all men get hot flashes when they get older. Research in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism shows about 20% of men over 50 report hot flashes. That's 1 in 5 men. Your genes, lifestyle, health, and testosterone levels decide if you'll have symptoms. Staying at a healthy weight, exercising often, and managing stress reduce your risk.
When Should I Call Medical Specialists About My Hot Flashes?
Call our Edina office if hot flashes mess up your sleep, work, or daily life. Make an appointment if you have hot flashes plus other symptoms like tiredness, mood changes, or sex problems. Men getting cancer treatment who get hot flashes should talk to our team about ways to manage them. Getting help early leads to better results and a better quality of life.
Conclusion
Male hot flashes are more common than most people think. They affect 1 in 5 men over 50. These uncomfortable episodes usually mean you have a hormone imbalance, especially low testosterone. The good news is they respond well to treatment.
The most important thing to know is that you don't have to live with hot flashes. Proven treatments work well. Testosterone therapy, lifestyle changes, and medicines can greatly reduce or stop symptoms. Fixing low testosterone early also prevents other health problems like heart disease and weak bones.
If you have hot flashes, tiredness, mood changes, or other signs of hormone imbalance, Medical Specialists, PA in Edina can help. Our experienced team focuses on hormone health for men. We offer complete testing, treatment plans made just for you, and ongoing support. Don't let hot flashes control your life.
For personalized care and expert hormone help, contact Medical Specialists in Edina at [phone number] or schedule your visit online at www.medicalspecialistsmn.com. Take the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
Medical Disclaimer
This information is for learning purposes only. It should not replace your doctor's advice. If you have hot flashes or other signs of hormone imbalance, contact Medical Specialists, PA in Edina at [phone number]. You can also schedule an appointment online at www.medicalspecialistsmn.com.
Our licensed providers will assess your individual health needs and create a treatment plan tailored to you.
