And what your bloating, mood swings, and PMS are really trying to tell you....
For most women, period symptoms are something we’re taught to endure, painkillers, heat packs, maybe the pill if things get really bad. It’s normal, right?
But what if I told you that your period pain, hormonal acne, PMS rage, or irregular cycles aren’t just hormonal issues, they’re digestive issues too?
That your gut health, the very core of how your body processes food, nutrients, stress, and toxins, plays a leading role in how you experience your menstrual cycle?
Let’s talk about the gut–hormone axis, the estrobolome, and why real period healing begins in the gut
Your Gut Is More Than Digestion
Your gut isn't just a digestive organ, it’s a hormonal, neurological, and immune powerhouse.
It houses:
Over 70% of your immune system.
And trillions of bacteria that influence how your body processes estrogen, detoxifies waste, and regulates inflammation.
It’s no surprise then, that when your gut is off, your hormones are too.
A disrupted gut microbiome (from antibiotics, stress, poor diet, over-exercising, under-eating) can lead to leaky gut, systemic inflammation, and altered estrogen metabolism, creating the perfect storm for period symptoms.
Meet the Estrobolome: Your Hormonal Gatekeeper
There’s a specific collection of microbes in your gut called the estrobolome, and it has one job: to regulate circulating estrogen in your body.
Here’s how it works:
Estrogen is produced (primarily in your ovaries), used by the body, then sent to the liver for detoxification.
The liver packages it up (via phase I & II detoxification pathways) and sends it to the gut for excretion.
In the gut, your estrobolome should ensure this estrogen is eliminated via stool.
But when the estrobolome is imbalanced, certain bacteria produce too much of an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase, which unpacks that detoxified estrogen and sends it back into circulation.
This reactivated estrogen builds up, creating estrogen dominance, even if your bloodwork says your estrogen is "normal."
Research Snapshot:
Studies show that elevated beta-glucuronidase activity is linked with breast cancer, endometriosis, and infertility due to chronic estrogen exposure (Plottel & Blaser, Nat Rev Endocrinol, 2011).
Women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are also more likely to experience premenstrual symptoms, suggesting an interplay between gut health and hormone regulation (Heitkemper & Jarrett, Am J Gastroenterol, 2008).
Signs Your Gut Is Driving Your Hormone Imbalance
You don’t need a stool test to tell if your gut might be impacting your cycle. Look for these clues:
Periods that are heavy, clotty, or painful.
PMS symptoms like mood swings, weepiness, or rage.
Hormonal acne (especially chin/jawline).
Breast tenderness or fluid retention.
Bloating (especially after meals or premenstrually).
Constipation, loose stools, or alternating patterns.
Fatigue that worsens in your luteal phase.
Histamine reactions (itchy skin, headaches, sinus issues mid-cycle).
If you’re nodding along to more than one of these, we need to talk about your microbiome.
What You're Doing That Might Be Making Things Worse
I see so many high-achieving, health-aware women doing “everything right” but still stuck in the same cycle of hormonal hell. Why? Because some well-intentioned habits might actually be inhibiting gut and hormone healing.
Going gluten-free or dairy-free, or restrictive diets without fibre replacement
Yes, those food groups can be inflammatory for some. But removing them often means women also remove prebiotic fibre which feeds the very bacteria needed to support estrogen detoxification.
Using DIM or Vitex without knowing your hormone levels
Both are popular supplements, but they can be too stimulating, especially if the liver and gut aren’t ready to handle shifting estrogen pathways.
Constantly “eating clean” with raw smoothies and cold salads
These can be digestively weakening, especially during your menstrual or luteal phase. Your body needs warmth and ease, not stress and strain.
Taking probiotics without checking for gut overgrowths
If your gut has SIBO, candida, or bacterial overgrowths, some probiotics (especially multi-strains with lactobacillus) can exacerbate symptoms like bloating, acne, or fatigue.
How to Support the Gut–Hormone Axis Naturally
Before reaching for the next hormone-balancing supplement, start with the basics. The body wants to heal, we just have to create the conditions for it.
Foods to Prioritise:
Brassica vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale): support liver detox of estrogen via sulforaphane.
Ground flaxseeds: rich in lignans to bind excess estrogen and promote elimination.
Cooked bitter greens (dandelion, rocket, endive): stimulate bile flow for liver and gallbladder support.
Warming meals with bone broth, stewed meats, root veg: soothe digestion and replenish mineral stores.
Fermented foods (if tolerated): support microbial diversity (try sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir).
Hydration + Elimination
You must be pooing daily to clear estrogen. If you’re not, that estrogen is being reabsorbed, full stop. Magnesium citrate, warm lemon water, or a gentle psyllium supplement can help if constipation is an issue, but as long as you are addressing the root cause, why are you constipated?
Herbal Support: Clinical Favourites
Your microbiome needs love, not warfare. These herbs gently support both the microbial terrain and the detoxification process, but must be used under the guidance of a herbalist or naturopath.
Globe Artichoke
Liver and gallbladder support + promotes bile production
Great for sluggish digestion, estrogen excess, and high cholesterol
Paeonia & Licorice
Modulate estrogen/progesterone balance and reduce inflammation
Support the HPA axis, ideal for luteal rage or burnout
Marshmallow Root & Slippery Elm
Soothe the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and calm histamine flares
Especially useful in leaky gut and gut-skin-hormone cases
Schisandra & Rehmannia
Adaptogenic liver and adrenal tonics
Support estrogen clearance while calming the nervous system
You Can’t Heal Hormones Without the Gut
When we treat “hormonal issues” like they’re isolated to the ovaries, we miss the bigger picture.
Your period problems may feel hormonal, but the root might be in your gut:
Your detox pathways
Your microbial balance
Your stress response
Your nervous system’s sense of safety
That’s why in my clinic, we don’t just suppress symptoms. We ask: What is your body trying to tell you?
And then we support it, gently, consistently, and with a whole-body plan.
Ready to Start Listening to Your Cycle?
If this feels like your story, you’re not alone. And you’re not broken.
Inside my 1:1 packages, we run gut microbiome testing, check for beta-glucuronidase activity, and map your symptoms to your cycle and life. Then we use food, herbs, and mindset tools to help you heal from the inside out.
Want personalised support? Click here to explore your options or book a discovery call I’d love to walk this with you.