In 2020, on "The Michelle Obama Podcast," the former first lady recalled that she had a super-hot flash while on the presidential helicopter, Marine One: "It was like somebody put a furnace in my core and turned it on high. And then everything started melting."

Hot flashes happen to about 75% of women, and start during perimenopause as estrogen levels fall. They cause a spike in body temperature, and trigger a rapid heartbeat and dizziness.

Usually they go on for about two years, although some women experience them for much longer.

Hot flashes can disrupt sleep, interfere with work and social activities, make it hard to exercise, and generally reduce quality of life. Hormone replacement (which is safe and smart — take a low-dose aspirin along with it; clotting is the major risk) has been the most prescribed therapy. Until now.

The Food and Drug Administration has now approved a nonhormonal pill called fezolinetant, which works by blocking a receptor that plays a role in regulation of body temperature.

The FDA approved the drug after Phase III of the SKYLIGHT-2 trial found that the medication reduced the frequency of hot flashes an average of 7.5 a day by week 12, and over the next 40 weeks women had even fewer hot flashes and the severity was reduced.

If you're contending with hot flashes, ask your doctor about this new therapy, and figure out which treatment would be best for you.

And I still advocate bioidentical hormone therapy along with baby aspirin.