Is your tummy telling you something?
You may find that in the lead up to the menopause your bowel health may begin to change. You might even begin to find you are becoming more sensitive to certain foods that you were fine with before.
In an article by the Menopause Centre, they talk about gut health and how and why changes can occur. They explain how bowel changes during the menopause may be caused by a loss of oestrogen in the gut’s oestrogen receptors.
There may be an indirect effect because of an increase in the stress hormone, cortisol. Diarrhoea, wind and bloating can also occur if you’re experiencing stress and anxiety. If you already have irritable bowel syndrome, the stress and anxiety of the menopause can make it worse.