Sex hormones and functional gastrointestinal disorders in menopausal women - Takeaways - 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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  • 1

    Menopausal women experience functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) linked to hormonal fluctuations, affecting up to 40% of this population.

  • 2

    Sex hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, directly and indirectly influence gastrointestinal function through various regulatory mechanisms.

  • 3

    Hormonal changes during menopause can exacerbate symptoms of FGIDs, with menopausal women being 2.9 times more likely to report abnormal GI symptoms.

  • 4

    Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shows mixed effects on GI function, with some studies indicating increased risk of gastroparesis.

  • 5

    Alterations in gut microbiota may mediate the interactions between sex hormones and the gut-brain axis, influencing FGIDs in menopausal women.

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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