Did you know that Sjögren’s disease affects significantly more women than men? While Sjögren’s can affect anyone, about 9 in 10 people with the disease are female, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Researchers don’t know what causes many cases of Sjögren’s — including why sex plays a role — but they do have a growing understanding of its impact on the body. Let’s briefly review how Sjögren’s works, then discuss some symptoms for women to watch out for.

A Brief Overview of Sjögren’s Disease

Sjögren’s disease (formerly known as Sjögren’s syndrome) is an autoimmune disease — a condition in which the immune system attacks the body, mistakenly thinking it’s a threat. In this case, the immune system attacks the glands that produce moisture in the body. The most commonly affected glands are the lacrimal and salivary glands, which produce tears and saliva. Up to 50 percent of people with Sjögren’s may also develop other issues affecting other parts of the body, like their organs.

While researchers aren’t sure what causes Sjögren’s, they sometimes classify it into two types. Primary Sjögren’s develops on its own, and associated Sjögren’s (formerly known as secondary Sjögren’s) coexists with other autoimmune conditions.

About half of the people with Sjögren’s have another autoimmune condition, which can make the disease difficult to understand. Symptoms could be due to Sjögren’s, an already-diagnosed autoimmune disease, an undiagnosed immune disease, or something else. Close communication with your Sjögren’s specialist is important for monitoring symptoms and understanding how to treat them.

10 Sjögren’s Disease Symptoms in Women

Below is a list of symptoms associated with Sjögren’s disease. While most of these symptoms are not specific to women, they are common issues that many may face.

Also, keep in mind that symptoms vary from person to person. Many people may only experience one or two of the symptoms listed, while some may experience them all. Sjögren’s can have widespread effects on the body, so not all possible symptoms are listed below.

1. Dry Eyes

One of the most common issues people with Sjögren’s disease may face is dry eyes. Your eyes may feel itchy or as if there is dust or dirt in them. Dry eyes can also lead to blurry vision, light sensitivity, infections, or damage to the cornea (outer layer of the eye).

2. Dry Mouth

Another common symptom is dry mouth, which can lead to trouble creating enough saliva to chew, speak, and swallow properly. People with dry mouth are at a higher risk of developing cavities or gum disease.

They’re also at a higher risk of developing yeast (fungal) infections, known as oral thrush or candidiasis. These infections create white patches on the tongue, cheeks, and throat and may cause additional symptoms, including pain, burning, or bleeding.

3. Vaginal Dryness

According to the Sjögren’s Foundation, women may also experience vaginal dryness, pain, burning, or stinging. This could cause discomfort during sex and a decreased desire to have it.

Similar to dry mouth, vaginal dryness may increase the risk of vaginal yeast infections, which can cause additional symptoms of discoloration, swelling, soreness, and odorless discharge with a consistency similar to cottage cheese.

4. Skin Dryness

Some people with Sjögren’s can experience dry skin, itchiness, discoloration, or cracking. You may notice sun or heat sensitivity, which can lead to rash outbreaks.

Dryness can also affect other aspects of the skin system, including nail and hair health. Some people may experience dry or brittle hair that sheds easily when brushing or showering. Others may experience flaky or discolored nails, making them hard to maintain.

Skin rashes can also occur in associated Sjögren’s disease. Make sure to mention any rashes to your healthcare team.

5. Joint Pain

Many people with Sjögren’s experience joint and muscle pain along with common dryness symptoms. Joints may become stiff and swollen, and muscles could feel painful or sore. Typically, joint pain happens in flares followed by periods of no pain. It usually affects the fingers, wrists, ankles, shoulders, hips, and knees.

Joint pain from Sjögren’s can be mistaken for — or coexist with — other autoimmune conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints, can cause similar joint pain flare-ups in many of the same joints. It’s three times more likely to develop in women than men, according to Cleveland Clinic, and it commonly coexists with Sjögren’s.

6. Fatigue

Sjögren’s can cause widespread symptoms affecting both the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (nerves that go to the rest of the body). Fatigue (extreme tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest) is one of the most common symptoms caused by Sjögren’s impact on the nervous system. It can show up long before other symptoms associated with Sjögren’s, like dryness. As with joint pain, fatigue can look like (or overlap with) other conditions.

For example, according to Frontiers of Immunology, females have a higher risk than men of developing fibromyalgia, a condition that can cause fatigue and long-term pain throughout the body. Researchers aren’t clear about the connection between fibromyalgia and Sjögren’s. However, research suggests that inflammation from fibromyalgia can cause symptoms similar to Sjögren’s, and females with fibromyalgia have 3.5 times the likelihood of developing Sjögren’s as males.

7. Brain Fog

Brain fog is another Sjögren’s symptom that could appear before dryness symptoms and overlap with other common conditions among women, like fibromyalgia. When people experience brain fog, they may have trouble thinking, focusing, or remembering things. They may also feel like it’s difficult to process information, find the right words in conversation, or keep their train of thought.

8. Digestive Issues

Sjögren’s can also impact the autonomic nervous system, a part of the peripheral nervous system that controls your body’s main functions, including your digestion. You may experience heartburn, upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea.

You may also develop gastroparesis, where the stomach has trouble emptying into your intestines. This can contribute to symptoms of an upset stomach, but it may cause other issues like bloating, changes in appetite, or weight loss. Women are more likely to develop gastroparesis than men.

9. Numbness or Tingling

Nerve pain can happen in people with Sjögren’s, causing numbness, burning, and tingling in the hands and feet (also called peripheral neuropathy). Some people may also feel weakness in these areas.

Nerve pain can make everyday activities difficult. For example, tingling foot pain may lead to balance issues while standing and walking, and hand numbness could cause you to drop things more often.

10. Swollen Glands

Since Sjögren’s attacks glands around the body, like the lacrimal (tear) and salivary glands, they may be swollen. But a less common and easily overlooked symptom is swollen lymph nodes, glands of the lymphatic system (a part of your immune system) that carry white blood cells to attack infection. Lymph nodes are located in the neck, groin, and armpits.

Swollen lymph nodes may be a symptom of other conditions like infections or blood cancer in the lymphatic system like non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While lymphoma isn’t common — especially among women, according to Cleveland Clinic — people with Sjögren’s have an increased risk of developing it.

When To Talk to a Doctor

Keeping track of your Sjögren’s symptoms can help your care team understand your symptom pattern and find the right treatment plan. Any new, changing, or stubborn symptoms should be reported to your doctor. If you’re planning to have a baby, talk to your doctor about the appropriate care you should receive throughout your pregnancy.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you begin to notice visual disturbances, a dry cough that doesn’t go away, unusual rashes, or new neurological (nerve-related) issues like fatigue. Dry cough, especially when noticed alongside difficulty breathing, requires immediate attention and treatment. People with Sjögren’s can also develop kidney issues that cause loss of protein, swelling all over the body, and a puffy face. In rare cases, you may also experience cardiac (heart) issues. Also seek immediate care if you notice possible symptoms of lymphoma, including swollen lymph nodes and:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fevers
• Night sweats

Join the Conversation

On MySjögrensTeam, people share their experiences with Sjögren’s disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

What’s your experience as a woman with Sjögren’s disease? What lifestyle changes or treatments have helped you? Let others know in the comments below.