Decreasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone during menopause can slow down the process of food passing through the GI system. When the digestive process takes longer, more water is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, which can lead to constipation, increased gas and bloating.
However, contradictory studies have shown that estrogen and estrogen receptor agonists are associated with an increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (28–31). Female sex hormones can relax the lower esophageal sphincter and increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (32).
Women may also notice digestive changes due to their menstrual cycle, most commonly during the second half of their cycle, caused by an increase in progesterone and estrogen levels. The increase in hormones can cause varying degrees of stomach and digestive discomfort.
On the other hand, “estrogen tends to increase the speed of digestion, so women may experience looser stools as estrogen circulation increases.” Because of the hormonal ups and downs that take place month to month between these two hormones, the intestine becomes prone to spasms where the muscles momentarily contract ...
While menopause itself doesn't cause IBS, fluctuations in ovarian hormones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in women. Multiple studies have shown that hormones may influence the occurrence, or worsening, of abdominal pain and discomfort during menopause, even if you haven't been diagnosed with IBS before.
Hormonal belly fat, or visceral fat, is a common and frustrating issue for many people, especially women. This type of fat is stored around the organs in the abdominal cavity and can lead to various health problems, such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
Recent studies show that menopausal women on hormone therapy tend to have less body fat, especially visceral belly fat. Because estrogen affects how your body distributes fat, low estrogen levels can contribute to gaining fat in your belly area.
While having too much estrogen can lead to bloating, having too little estrogen can also contribute to abdominal discomfort.
However they will almost certainly take your condition into account when considering HRT. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some women do experience relief from the symptoms of IBS or IBD when undergoing hormone replacement therapy during the menopause.
Low oestrogen can sometimes also affect the production of acid in your stomach causing low acid which can cause indigestion and gastric reflux as well.
Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea). Weight gain, especially in your belly. Headaches before or during your period. Decreased sex drive and painful intercourse (dyspareunia).
As women's oestrogen and progesterone levels reduce, some body processes are affected, including digestion. Hyperplasia means an unusual increase in cellular growth, and endometrial hyperplasia (the uterine lining) can overgrow, leading to abdominal pain and spotting.
One of the reasons for hormone imbalance is down to the interaction of oestrogen and the stress hormone – cortisol. When oestrogen is low, levels of cortisol can rise and this has several effects including a reduced release of stomach acid and a slowing of the movement of digested food into the small intestine.
Estrogen and progesterone ensure that the muscles work smoothly and consistently to move food through the digestive tract. Constipation and diarrhea can occur when these hormone levels decrease.
In addition to regulating the menstrual cycle, estrogen affects the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, the heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and the brain.
It was established also that estrogens acted on target organs such as the uterus, hypothalamus, pituitary, bone, mammary tissue, and liver, as well as having local actions within the gonads (Hisaw 1947; Hall et al.
Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3.
For example, estrogen helps control cortisol, the stress hormone. When that regulation is weakened, the increased stress response can result in crushing fatigue. And feeling tired goes hand-in-hand with another common perimenopausal symptom—trouble sleeping.