Hypnosis for Hot Flashes: What Clinician-Led and Self-Guided Audio Trials Found
Menopause & HormonesArticleClinical hypnosis is one of the nonhormone hot flash treatments with the strongest rating from the Menopause Society. In a 2013 trial, five weekly sessions cut hot flashes by about 74% versus 17% with a comparison program. A 2025 trial found self-guided audio recordings also beat a sham recording, with a smaller difference.
In this article
Clinical hypnosis isn’t stage hypnosis. It’s a guided, deeply relaxed state, often using imagery such as feeling cool, plus suggestions you practice at home.1 The Menopause2 Society lists it among the nonhormone hot flash treatments with Level I evidence, alongside CBT, certain antidepressants, gabapentin and fezolinetant.2
The clinician-led trial (2013)
187 postmenopausal women with at least seven hot flashes a day had five weekly sessions of clinical hypnosis or a comparison program.3
| By week 12 | Hypnosis | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reported hot flashes | down 74% | down 17% |
| Hot flashes measured by a monitor | down 57% | down 10% |
Women in the hypnosis group also had less disruption from hot flashes, better sleep and higher satisfaction.3
The self-guided audio trial (2025)
250 postmenopausal women, about a quarter with a history of breast cancer, listened to self-administered audio recordings for 6 weeks: either hypnosis with cooling imagery or a white-noise “sham” recording.1
- Hot flash scores dropped 53% with hypnosis vs. 41% with the sham.1
- Interference from hot flashes dropped more with hypnosis.1
- 90% of the hypnosis group felt it helped vs. 64% of the sham group.1
The difference was smaller than in the clinician-led trial, but audio recordings are easier to access and use at home.31
What doesn’t help as much
Paced breathing on its own isn’t recommended for hot flashes, based on Level I evidence.2
How to find it
- Ask your clinician or menopause specialist about clinical hypnosis referrals.
- Ask whether a structured audio program is an option.
- Compare it with other nonhormone choices: CBT for night sweats, fezolinetant, oxybutynin and stellate ganglion block.
Try: “I’d rather not take a pill for my hot flashes. Is clinical hypnosis an option, and do you know of a trained clinician or a structured audio program?”
My Body Changed. Now What? includes a Visit Brief. Use it to log how many hot flashes you have each day before and after starting hypnosis. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with certain mental health conditions, such as psychosis; ask your clinician first. Chest pain, fainting, or hot flashes with fever, weight loss or night sweats that soak the bed should be evaluated. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. This article discusses published research. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- JAMA Network Open (full text via PubMed Central), 2025Self-Administered Hypnosis vs Sham Hypnosis for Hot Flashes: A Randomized Clinical Trial (opens in a new tab)abcdef
- Menopause (abstract via PubMed), 2023The 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society (opens in a new tab)abc
- Menopause (full text via PubMed Central), 2013Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial (opens in a new tab)abcd
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we’ll check it.
