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Expert Q&A

	By David L. Fay, M.D. Family Physician Associate Director, Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program

My healthy, vegetarian, 28-year old daughter has had hot flashes since the birth of her healthy 7-pound son 15 months ago. What could be causing this? She is on a low-dosage birth control pill, and takes no other medication. She is 5 feet, 7 inches, 130 pounds, eats healthy and exercises.

Hot flashes can be an annoying symptom of many different problems. Most women associate them with menopause and changes in female hormones. It is certainly possible that even at 15 months she is having a change in female hormones related to her pregnancy, although it is less likely than in the first few months after delivery. The birth control pill can be causing these changes, and a trial off the pills may help elucidate this.

Hot flashes can also be related to other uncommon, endocrinologic problems, such as thyroid disease, abnormalities of the adrenal glands, pituitary problems, lactation or glucose metabolism disorders.

An evaluation by her physician would be a good idea, and considering non-hormonal birth control for a short period of time may be of benefit.

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