ABSTRACT
Reduction in levels of circulating estrogens has been accepted as the underlying condition that results in the menopausal hot flash. However, the exact mechanism(s) by which the withdrawal of estrogen acts to produce a flash is not known. No evidence is available in regard to normal skin conductance levels of forehead, cheeks, or manubrium sterni, and normal digital skin conductance has not been defined as such. There are tremendous differences between subjects at the digital sites, and Kuno has documented great differences in patterns and amounts of heat regulatory sweating in male subjects. The arbitrary definition of hot flash start found in hypothesis is misleading in the extreme. It is too narrow and has tended to restrict the variety of sensors and sensor sites utilized. As one consequence, faulty time relationships with hormonal and sleep variables are declared.
