Gut Health and Hormones: The Connection No One Talks About

The gut-hormone axis, explained simply

Most women think of gut health and hormone health as two separate things. In reality, they're deeply connected, and understanding this link is one of the most useful things you can learn about your own body in midlife.

Your gut contains a specific collection of bacteria, sometimes called the "oestrobolome", which produces an enzyme that helps regulate how oestrogen is metabolised and either reabsorbed or excreted from the body. When your gut microbiome is out of balance, this process can go wrong in either direction, contributing to symptoms of oestrogen excess or oestrogen deficiency, both of which can make perimenopause symptoms feel worse.

Beyond oestrogen specifically, your gut also plays a major role in inflammation, blood sugar regulation and even mood, through its influence on neurotransmitter production. So when the gut is under strain, the knock-on effects can touch nearly every symptom associated with perimenopause and menopause.

Signs your gut might need support

Bloating, particularly after meals or that worsens through the day, is one of the most common signs. Irregular bowel habits, whether that's constipation, looseness or an unpredictable mix of both, is another. Skin changes, low energy that doesn't improve with rest, and even mood swings can all have a gut health component that's easy to overlook when you're focused on hormones alone.

What gut testing reveals

A general sense that "something's off" with your digestion is a useful starting point, but it doesn't tell you what's actually happening at a microbial level. Gut testing looks at the balance of bacteria in your microbiome, flags imbalances that could be affecting hormone metabolism and inflammation, and gives a much clearer basis for building a nutrition plan that actually addresses the root cause rather than just managing symptoms.

Where to start

If you've been focusing entirely on hormones and not seeing the improvement you'd expect, your gut may be part of the missing piece. Inside the Eat Better Feel Better membership, gut health is one of our eight core pillars, alongside nutrition, hormones, sleep, movement and more, and gut testing is available if you want a clear, personalised picture of what's going on.

You can explore the membership and start with a 30-day free trial whenever you're ready.

Start your trial here.