Gut-Hormone Connection
- Emily Wolbers, ND
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
15 years ago, I used to lie on my bed with textbooks on my belly because I was so bloated. I didn't know it then, but what was happening in my gut was deeply connected to what was happening with my hormones. I just didn't have the language or the science yet.
There's a huge connection between gut health and hormone balance.
I had the absolute pleasure of geeking out with Dr. Heidi and Dr. Serena, the brilliant duo behind the Hormone Heroines podcast, to dig into one of my favorite topics at the intersection of gut health and hormone balance. If you haven't listened yet, clear some space in your podcast queue.
A big topic we talked about was the Estrobalome:
The microbiome and how that relates to estrogen specifically.
There's so much to it!
Here's the short version:
Your gut microbiome doesn't just digest your food. It actively regulates how estrogen is processed, circulated, and eliminated.
There are specific enzymes at play, most notably beta-glucuronidase, that determine whether estrogen gets recycled back into your bloodstream or properly cleared out. When your gut bacteria are out of balance, estrogen metabolism can go sideways, contributing to symptoms like bloating, mood changes, heavy periods, PMS, and the hormonal chaos that so many women experience heading into perimenopause.
This is why improving gut health can be such a powerful lever for improving estrogen balance.
What This Looks Like in Real Women
Dr. Heidi and Dr. Serena shared that this is one of their favorite topics to discuss with patients, and honestly, it's one of mine too — because the "aha moment" is so satisfying. Women come in frustrated, feeling like their hormones are a mystery, when often the starting point is right there in the gut.
The two most common gut complaints I see in perimenopausal women are
bloating
stool changes
Both can be purely gut-related, purely hormonal, or (most often) a combination of both. And the only way to know for sure? We test. Functional lab work takes the guesswork out and gives us a clear map for where to start.
If you've been struggling with hormonal symptoms and feel like you've tried everything, it's worth asking: has anyone looked at your gut AND your hormones? The estrobolome is one of the most underappreciated pieces of the hormone puzzle, and it's finally getting the attention it deserves.
Your gut and your hormones aren't separate systems running parallel tracks. They're in constant conversation. When you support one, you support the other.
Listen to the full episode with Hormone Heroines for all the details, the science, and a whole lot of fun along the way. Dr. Heidi and Dr. Serena are a brilliant, warm pair and this one is well worth your time.
🎙️ Catch all of our podcast episodes in one place on our new page:
Book mark it for your listening + learning pleasure!