The GutFit Nutrition Podcast · Leigh Merotto, Dietitian | IBS, Gut Health and Fitness Expert

39: IBS and Perimenopause — How Hormonal Changes Impact Gut Symptoms

·31 min·2 clips

Two to four women have IBS for every one man—and estrogen might explain why.

Leigh Murado opens by connecting perimenopause with gut symptoms. She explains that the gastrointestinal tract contains estrogen and progesterone receptors. In other words, the gut is paying attention to hormonal changes. She notes that research on estrogen and digestion has grown in recent years. The episode uses that research to widen the lens on digestive conditions. Those include reflux, GERD, esophageal cancer, peptic ulcers, gastric cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, colon cancer, and IBS. From there, the focus shifts from biology to day-to-day management. She recommends keeping a detailed symptom log. That record can help when a listener brings concerns to a doctor. The point is better advocacy and a clearer sense of what is going on. She then shifts to mindset. Perimenopause is treated as a transition, not a decline. She encourages listeners to think in terms of prevention and learning. She also recommends monitoring changes with blood work. A DEXA scan is her favorite baseline tool. She says it can track bone mineral density. It can also show body fat, visceral fat distribution, and lean mass. Having that baseline makes annual follow-up more useful. The episode then moves into nutrition strategy. Blood sugar spikes become a main concern. She says those spikes may show up more with age. They can contribute to insulin resistance, body-fat gain, and muscle loss. They may also affect motility. Balanced meals and snacks are one way to support fullness and cut down on overeating. The larger message is simple: gut symptoms during perimenopause can be tracked, discussed, and supported with practical habits.

As heard by us

Perimenopause is framed through gut health, with practical steps for tracking symptoms and talking to a doctor.

The episode treats perimenopause as more than a hormonal shift, linking the gut and the endocrine system in a way that makes the GI angle feel relevant rather than incidental.

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Why you'd press play

When perimenopause turns your gut into a moving target.

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