Well, ladies, besides night sweats, insomnia, UTIs and a whole host of other issues associated with menopause, there is some evidence that existing allergies are exacerbated by menopause and that new ones develop during menopause.
This would explain the severe allergic reactions I experienced starting in my 50s and continuing to this day: unbearable, itchy hives over my stomach area and thighs after eating swordfish; a rash on my forearms from tending geraniums; and sores on my tongue from eating acidic fruits, vinegar dressings, and pairing walnuts with cheese.
At the time, I shrugged these allergies off, attributing them to my advanced age. Not necessarily untrue but……
After listening to complaints from friends and relatives about the allergies they began experiencing while in menopause, it occurred to me that maybe there might be something more at work here other than merely the aging process.
According to a study from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Division of Allergy/Immunology, “estrogen receptors are found on numerous immunoregulatory cells and estrogen’s actions skew the immune response toward allergy.” In layman’s terms, decreasing estrogen levels cause the body to produce more histamine, which is a chemical that leads to allergy symptoms.
So, it’s not just your imagination.
The Atrophied Vagina Club 