Oral dryness, nocturia and the menopause

To analyse the relationship between oral dryness (OD), nocturia, the menopausal transition and some medical conditions and medications in women.

A questionnaire study was carried out in 3669 randomly selected women (out of 6000 invited) in the County of Jämtland, Sweden. Questions were asked about occurrence of somatic diseases and symptoms, nocturia, nocturnal thirst and drinking, and the use of drugs.

The occurrence of oral dryness was 17.8% in women before the menopause, 23.3% during the first 5 years after, 29.2% 5-9 years after and 34.5% 10 or more years after the menopause (P < 0.0001). In a multiple logistic regression analysis independent correlates for oral dryness were: nocturnal micturition, one episode versus none 1.7 (1.4-2.1); two versus none 2.4 (1.7-3.2); > or = 3 versus none 3.3 (2.1-5.2); menopausal state: <5 years after the menopause versus before 1.2 (0.9-1.6); 5-9 years after the menopause versus before 1.6 (1.2-2.1); > or = 10 years after the menopause versus before 1.7 (1.3-2.2); musculo-skeletal pain 1.6 (1.3-2.1) being on one or more prescribed drugs 1.8 (1.5-2.1).

The present data show that OR is a common and disregarded symptom in women with nocturia independent of menopausal state, musculo-skeletal symptoms and medication with analgesics, diuretics, hypnotics and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).