The Hidden Connection Between Hormones and IBS Symptoms
If you deal with bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain — and you’ve also noticed your symptoms flare before your period, during PMS, or in perimenopause — you’re not imagining things. Your gut and hormones are more connected than most people realize.
In fact, hormone imbalances are one of the most overlooked drivers of IBS symptoms. Here’s why it happens — and what functional medicine does differently to address it.
Estrogen: The Gut Motility Regulator
Estrogen plays a major role in keeping your gut moving. When estrogen levels drop right before your period, gut motility can slow down — leading to constipation, cramping, and bloating.
On the flip side, too much estrogen (or poor estrogen detoxification) can drive inflammation, histamine release, and even worsen food sensitivities.
Functional Approach: We look at estrogen and its metabolites (via DUTCH testing) to see if you’re clearing estrogen properly — then support healthy detox through liver and gut pathways.
Progesterone: The Calm but Sluggish Hormone
Progesterone is naturally calming — it slows things down, which is great for sleep but not so great for digestion if it’s out of balance. High progesterone during the luteal phase can cause:
Slower bowel movements
Feelings of fullness after small meals
Increased bloating
Functional Approach: Supporting balanced progesterone (through stress reduction, targeted nutrients, and blood sugar balance) can minimize these gut slowdowns.
Cortisol: The Stress-Gut Link
Chronic stress raises cortisol, which diverts blood flow away from digestion. High cortisol can lead to diarrhea or urgency, while low, burned-out cortisol can cause sluggish digestion and bloating.
Functional Approach: Salivary or urine cortisol testing shows your daily rhythm. We use nervous system regulation, adaptogenic herbs, and lifestyle strategies to restore a healthy curve — so digestion can normalize.
Why Addressing Hormones + Gut Together Works
Most IBS treatments focus only on diet — but if hormones are driving your gut symptoms, no amount of elimination dieting will fully fix the problem. By addressing both systems together, we can:
Reduce bloating and pain around your cycle
Improve bowel regularity
Minimize PMS mood swings and cramps
Restore energy and sleep
The Bottom Line
Your gut symptoms may not just be about food — they may be about your hormones. When we run the right tests and look at the whole picture, we can finally stop chasing symptoms and start restoring balance.
📅 Book Your Free Discovery Call Here to learn how we can help you balance hormones and calm your gut for good.