Many are unaware, but a woman’s gut health directly impacts her hormonal balance. Several medical conditions are linked to changes in the composition of the gut microbiome. These include depression, heart disease, anxiety disorders, osteoarthritis, and cancer. Compared to men, females are more vulnerable to these problems. Moreover, gut bacteria are also linked to cancer of the ovary, breasts, and cervix, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The gut microbiome is also responsible for shifts in menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. This is why good gut health reflects positive reproductive health in females. Let us understand the connection a woman shares with her gut health, and the influence on hormones in her body.
Decoding the Link Between Hormonal Balance and Gut Microbiome
You may have heard of the gut-skin axis and gut-brain axis, but may not have understood what they mean. We are here to decode the facts for you. It is the connection between neurons in the brain, the neurotransmitters, and their reaction to changes in the gut microbiome. These changes affect the hormonal balance. If there are harmful bacteria in the gut, estriol, estradiol, and other estrogens try to reduce their impact.
On the flip side, some bacterial strains see a boost because of progesterone. An increase in male hormones in females such as elevated testosterone and androgen levels causes fertility issues in women and shares a connection with the reduced availability of specific microbiomes in the gut. Here are examples of how gut microbiome and hormonal balance are interrelated with each other.
· A crucial female reproductive health hormone, estrogen maintains fertility and several body functions in women, including bone and cardiovascular health, insulin levels, memory function, and fat regulation.
· Talking about estrobolome is a type of gut microbe that impacts estrogen metabolism and produces this hormone. Several factors can affect the composition of estrobolome and its function. These factors are antibiotics and certain medicine usage, environmental aspects, etc.
· Disruption in microbial activity will also adversely affect the hormonal balance and fertility in women, leading to a high risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc. The reciprocal effect applies to estrogen levels also affecting the gut microbiome diversity.
· Estrogen amounts available may foster beneficial or harmful bacteria depending on their levels, and determine women’s health, their digestive system, and inflammatory responses.
Understanding Gastrointestinal Health and Women’s Reproductive Health
Sometimes referred to as the ‘second brain, the gut helps with digestion and has a huge impact on the immune system and reproductive health in women. Let’s know how they affect menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
1. Menstrual Cycle and Gut Health
Your immune system defends the body from infections and pathogens. It often reacts to gut conditions, especially the GALT (gut-associated lymphoid tissues), which interacts with toxins entering the intestines, food particles, and microbes. Gut dysbiosis, which is gut microbiome imbalance, causes issues with immunity and the menstrual cycle. It is a leading cause of endometriosis, where tissues like that of the uterine lining develop outside the uterus.
Progesterone and estrogen regulate the menstrual cycle. However, they also have an effect on digestion. Thus, gastrointestinal health is related to menstruation directly, and issues within cause symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea.
2. Pregnancy and Gut Health
Not just for the mother, but a healthy balance between the gut microbiome and hormones is important for the fetus’s development and pregnancy. In the last trimester, gut health plays a vital role. Progesterone levels are high during pregnancy, which helps maintain gut microbes and their diversity as required, and that of the baby’s immune system. It assists with the transmission of necessary bacterial strains from the mother to the baby. Also, it keeps away allergies.
Moreover, good gut health aids with postpartum recovery. However, problems with pregnancy because of poor gut microbiome diversity, may result in pre-eclampsia, depression, high blood pressure following 20 weeks of pregnancy, metabolic and insulin issues, and gestational diabetes.
3. Menopause and Gut Health
Lack of estrogen during menopause causes symptoms such as mood swings, sleep disruptions, and hot flashes. It also impacts the balance of the gut microbiome adversely, increasing bone health problems and osteoporosis risk. Prevotella sp. are gut bacteria that help maintain strong bones, and Bacteroides sp. elevates the risk of bone fractures.
If there is an imbalance in the gut microbiome, you can consume probiotics and regulate the diversity of microbes in the intestines. Estrogen level reduction in menopause also leads to cardiometabolic problems, weight gain, Alzheimer’s disease, muscle loss, and breast cancer.
Poor Gut Health — Women’s Health and Associated Problems
Now that we have understood the relationship between women’s health and their gut microbiome diversity, here is a list of gynecological and other problems that a female may encounter, if there is an imbalance in any of the two mentioned.
1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Ovarian dysfunction causes hormonal balance problems and gives rise to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, insulin resistance issues, and irregular periods. Reduced diversity of healthy gut microbiome is often found in women with PCOS, leading to disturbed gut mucosal barrier, and increasing PCOS symptoms.
2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive issues in women occur because of hormonal changes. For instance, these symptoms along with abdominal pain are prominent during IBS, which often is caused due to faulty gut-brain axis coordination, and an estrogen level increase. The issue further heightens due to improper diet and lifestyle choices.
3. Bacterial Vaginosis: Gut microbes along with the microbiome in the genital area play a crucial role in defense against infections. When vaginal microbes are disturbed, it can cause an increased risk of STDs and pelvic inflammatory diseases. This is from low lactobacilli levels in the vagina and surprisingly, this microbe comes from the gut. The gut also holds lactobacilli and transfers it to the vagina. So, if you maintain good gut health, the risk of bacterial vaginosis is also reduced.
4. Cancer: Ovarian, breast, and cervical cancer may occur because of high estrogen levels. You can take probiotic supplements and change your diet to better suit your gut health. Also, regular monitoring of reproductive health is important if there is a family history of the mentioned cancers. If you are under hormonal medicines, speak with your healthcare provider about their safe use.
To Conclude
Your gut health speaks loudly of your overall health, including the reproductive system. For a woman, it is more important to maintain a balanced gut microbiome diversity and hormones. You can add more fiber-rich food to your diet, and keep a check on your body weight and gastrointestinal health for further relief. If you encounter issues with the gut or reproductive health, contact a healthcare provider right away.
