New York, Oct 4 (IANS): Women with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes during pregnancy are likely to experience more hot flashes during their menopause, a new study reports.

According to researchers, an estimated 60 to 80 per cent of women experience hot flashes as part of menopause.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes may be modestly associated with a greater number of hot flashes.

It could be because of the cholesterol-lowering and diabetes medications, the findings revealed.

In contrast, women who had never been pregnant experienced fewer hot flashes.

"Women with a history of these pregnancy disorders were heavier and more likely to be taking lipid-lowering medications and diabetes medications," said lead researcher, Rhoda Conant, from the University of Oklahoma in the US.

In the study, published in the journal Menopause, the team examined data on more than 2,200 women.

"With so many women affected by hot flashes, healthcare providers need to understand all the underlying risk factors that could influence hot flashes at the time of menopause," said JoAnn Pinkerton, Executive Director from The North American Menopause Society in the US.