Perimenopause and Gut Health: What Most Doctors Overlook
As you enter perimenopause, you might notice new digestive symptoms — bloating, food sensitivities or changes in bowel habits. These are often shrugged off as "just part of getting older," but emerging research suggests they are intimately tied to your gut microbiome and hormonal shifts.
Key Research Finding
Studies of postmenopausal women have found significantly altered gut microbiota and metabolite profiles compared with non-menopausal controls, particularly in amino acid and lipid pathways that affect overall health and symptom severity.
Hormones & the Gut: A Two-Way Conversation
During perimenopause and menopause, declining oestrogen levels influence gut microbial diversity and function. Studies of postmenopausal women have found altered gut microbiota and metabolite profiles compared with non-menopausal controls, particularly in amino acid and lipid pathways.
Menopause is associated with decreased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (beneficial microbes) and increased potentially pro-inflammatory genera. This shift isn't just coincidental — it's a direct result of hormonal changes that affect the gut environment.
Research Insight
The gut microbiome can actually influence estrogen levels through the "estrobolome" — specific bacterial genes that produce enzymes capable of metabolizing estrogens. This creates a bidirectional relationship where hormones affect gut health, and gut health affects hormone balance.
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