Sex hormones and functional gastrointestinal disorders in menopausal women - Summary - MDSpire

Sex hormones and functional gastrointestinal disorders in menopausal women

  • By

  • Zijun LI

  • Yaqin Zheng

  • Fangrong Shen

  • Xin Zhou

  • March 24, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To elucidate potential pathways for FGIDs/DGBI in menopausal women linked to changes in sex hormone levels and propose new therapeutic strategies.

Key Findings:
  • FGIDs/DGBI are prevalent in menopausal women, with hormonal fluctuations significantly impacting GI function.
  • Estrogen and other sex hormones influence visceral sensitivity, GI motility, and immune activation in the gut.
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and estrogen supplementation show varied effects on GI functionality.
Interpretation:

The interplay between sex hormones and GI function is complex, involving direct and indirect regulatory mechanisms that contribute to FGIDs/DGBI in menopausal women.

Limitations:
  • The review is based on existing literature, which may have publication bias.
  • The study focuses on literature published until June 2023, which may not capture the most recent findings.
Conclusion:

Understanding the relationship between sex hormones and FGIDs/DGBI can lead to novel therapeutic approaches for managing these conditions in menopausal women, particularly through targeted hormone therapies.

Original Source(s)

Sex hormones and functional gastrointestinal disorders in menopausal women

  • by Zijun LI, Yaqin Zheng, Fangrong Shen, Xin Zhou

  • March 24, 2026

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