Dry Mucous Membranes During Menopause? Here's What You Can Do
You keep blinking, swallowing, and shifting in your seat. Yet nothing seems to alleviate what you're feeling: dry mucous membranes. A common occurrence among women going through menopause. Why do you experience dry mucous membranes during menopause, and what can you do about it? Read on to find out.
What Are Dry Mucous Membranes?
Let's start by understanding mucous membranes. Mucous membranes play a crucial role in our immune system as they form the body's first line of defence. They cover areas directly exposed to air, food, and other external influences. You can find mucous membranes in the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, lungs, vagina, bladder, and intestines.
The mucus produced by our mucous membranes helps in expelling waste. Think of mucus from your nose, tears from your eyes, or discharge from your vagina. Changes in your hormone balance, as well as age, diet, stress, or medication, can affect the health of mucous membranes.
Dry mucous membranes have reduced mucus production. Lacking moisture can lead to irritations, itching, or even pain.
Vaginal Dryness: A Common Menopausal Symptom
Our vagina also contains mucous membranes. During menopause, many changes occur in your body, such as the walls of the vagina and the labia becoming thinner and drier. This is due to a decreased production of hormones oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones help keep our mucous membranes and vaginal flora, the bacteria in our vagina, healthy and balanced.
A healthy vaginal flora contains many lactobacilli – a specific type of bacteria – and has low bacterial diversity, meaning fewer different types of bacteria. Women with a healthy vaginal flora experience less vaginal dryness than those with the opposite balance: fewer lactobacilli and higher bacterial diversity.
Why Do You Get Dry Mucous Membranes During Menopause?
A reduced production of oestrogen during menopause can dry out mucous membranes. Think of dry eyes, a dry mouth, or vaginal dryness. During menopause, your body gradually produces less oestrogen and progesterone. As a result, the skin of the vagina becomes thinner and weaker. This is known as vaginal atrophy and is accompanied by dryness, irritation, itching, pain during intercourse, and vaginal and urinary tract infections.
How to Care for Your Mucous Membranes During Menopause?
Take good care of your mucous membranes. Here are our tips:
1. Restore with Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral, meaning our body does not produce it and we can only obtain it through food. Zinc contributes to the production of cells and tissues, which make up our entire body, including our mucous membranes. Additionally, zinc supports normal hormone balance. You can find high amounts of zinc in oysters and other seafood, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, meaning it protects our body from external influences and helps maintain healthy cells and tissues. You can find vitamin E in nuts, seeds, kernels, sprouted vegetables, green (leafy) vegetables, and corn.
