Why Do Women Have More Gut Health Issues Than Men?

Why do women have more gut health issues than men? Many people are asking this question, and today, I’m sharing insights that shed light on this growing issue. Women’s gut health hits home for me. As someone who has battled Hashimoto’s, mold issues, and other chronic health concerns, gut health for women is near and dear to my heart.

Men and women have unique attributes by design. For this reason, there are many aspects of women’s gut health that need to be addressed from a different angle. In this article, I’m going to talk about several reasons women have more gut issues than men. However, I won’t simply talk about the issues without leaving you with a solution. By recognizing key biological differences and external factors that trigger gut health issues, women can feel empowered to take back their health.

Women’s Monthly Cycle

Your body is constantly communicating. The central nervous system sends signals to the brain, the gut, and even your uterus. Hormones also play a role in communication. These chemical messengers ebb and flow during women’s monthly cycles. Your gut also plays a role in hormone regulation and communication.  

A healthy microbiome is a diverse community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Certain bacteria within the microbiome are in charge of estrogen metabolism. These bacteria are part of your estrobolome. The ovaries produce estrogen, which then circulates throughout your body. In its active state, estrogen assists with several body functions. One of these functions includes women’s monthly cycles. Once it reaches the liver, it gets deactivated. Think of it like turning off the lights once you’re done using them. From here, the liver sends inactive estrogen to the gut. Your colon then excretes this estrogen in your stool.

When there is a disruption in women’s gut health, however, this process can malfunction. Gut microbial β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes can reactivate the inactive estrogen once it reaches the gut. When this happens, you have excess estrogen flooding your body. Too many gut microbial β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes bacteria can contribute to excess estrogen in the body¹ In some women, it may even lead to estrogen dominance. Hormonal imbalances between estrogen and progesterone can lead to poor gut health in women. It can also lead to estrogen-related conditions. Common examples include PCOS, endometriosis, and some cancers²

Hormones during women’s monthly cycles can also alter the motility of the GI tract, leading to symptoms such as gas, bloating, cramps, constipation, and diarrhea.

Low Stomach Acid

One key difference between women’s gut health and men’s lies in the stomach. Women tend to have lower stomach acid levels than men. Additionally, women seem to empty food from their stomachs more slowly than men³ This combination of slower emptying speed and lower stomach acid can lead to increased bloating and gas.

However, there is another reason low stomach acid can contribute to poor gut health in women. First, it’s important to understand the role stomach acid plays in your health. One of its jobs is to break down food. Its other job is to kill off harmful pathogens you might ingest. Normal stomach acid has a pH of between 1.5 and pH 3.5. When your body doesn’t produce enough stomach acid, your stomach cannot maintain the acidic environment it needs to ward off harmful microbes. This can contribute to women’s gut issues like leaky gut and SIBO.

Colon Length 

Female colon anatomy is different from male colon anatomy. The colon, or large intestine, typically measures between five feet to six feet long. Research reveals disparities in men’s vs women’s colon lengths, with women having longer colons than men⁴ The extra ten centimeters in a woman’s colon can introduce variations in digestion and absorption processes. With these variations, there is more potential for digestive problems. Lack of proper digestion can cause women’s gut health to be worse than in men.

Proximity of GI Organs

A woman’s digestive tract and reproductive system share close proximity in the body. Regardless of whether or not a woman has children, this unique arrangement may impact digestive processes. During pregnancy, a woman’s organs are slowly rearranged to make room for the growing child. Hormones affect the motility of the GI tract, leading to digestive issues like acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and more⁵ Once the child is born, the body then undergoes the process of slowly shifting back to how it was before. While the differences would be small, sometimes the organs never fully return to their pre-pregnancy location. This can increase the likelihood of poor gut health for women. If a woman never becomes pregnant, the presence of the uterus and ovaries may play a role in digestion and overall gut health for women.

Menopause

Poor gut health for women can also stem from hormonal changes during menopause. Menopause is a process when menstruation stops permanently. This process also marks the end of reproduction. Menopause usually begins anywhere between the ages of 40 to 50, with 51 being the average age in the United States. However, its exact timing varies from person to person. During menopause, women go through physical, emotional, and mental changes. Part of this includes changes to digestion and gut health.

The lowering of estrogen and progesterone during menopause can cause hormonal imbalances in the body. Fluctuations can disrupt the microbiome. In effect, some women may feel more symptoms of acid reflux, bloating, and gas⁶ It can also cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in some women. Mood swings, poor eating habits, lack of sleep, and medications can add fuel to the fire and further alter gut health for women.

Body Image & Dieting

Even today, diet fads continue to bombard women. This is partly due to the cultural expectations we have on body image. From rapid weight loss elixirs to quick fixes, these short-term promises rarely live up to true health in the long run. The problem is that many of these diet fads tend to focus on calorie restrictions. Or, they put a heavy emphasis on one food group only. Think of all the low-calorie diets out there. While the idea sounds promising, these fad diets neglect the holistic picture of how your body is intricately connected. This often leads to poor gut health for women.

Your gut microbiome needs a diverse community of organisms in order to thrive. For example, some studies have found that eating digestible carbohydrates increases Bifidobacteria in the gut. This type of bacteria facilitates DNA synthesis and repair⁷ Fad diets that promote the elimination of certain food groups can prevent these healthy bacteria from doing their job. It also reduces the biodiversity of the microbiome. A lack of microbiome diversity can lead to other chronic diseases⁸

Modern Lifestyle

You might be familiar with terms such as body clock and circadian rhythm. These “internal clocks” keep our bodies operating in correspondence with a 24-hour night-day cycle. Plants, animals, and even microbes also have this internal clock. It’s what helps keep the rhythm of life going.

Women have a month-long hormone cycle, but men have a 24-hour cycle. This mainly has to do with how their bodies process testosterone. Due to today’s modern lifestyle, however, many women are adapting to a more 24-hour cycle. Juggling careers, relationships, and health can be stressful⁹ This constant stress can negatively impact hormone balance in the body. These hormone imbalances can further lead to poor gut health for women.

How Can Women Improve Their Gut Health?

Your gut is the gateway to optimal health. For decades, the 4R approach has been a proven method for healing women’s gut health. It consists of four steps, each with specific instructions.

Here are the highlights:

• Remove the bad – Eliminate factors that negatively affect the gut environment with Gut ImmunIGⓇ. This includes all inflammatory and toxic foods. It also includes addressing intestinal infections. Examples include yeast overgrowth and SIBO.  
• Restore what’s missing— Support optimal digestion and nutrient absorption by adding digestive enzymes and Gut Restore with Betaine HCL. These help repair the gut and encourage a healthy inflammation response. 
• Reinoculate with healthy bacteria — Restore beneficial bacteria to your gut to help re-establish a healthy microbiome. 
• Repair the gut — Help your gut repair itself by providing necessary nutrients  L-glutamine is an amino acid that supports the gut lining. Drinking bone broth or collagen will also help soothe and heal the gut. Adding omega-3s, and zinc assists healthy immune function. Herbs such as slippery elm and aloe vera are also highly beneficial.

In addition to the 4R approach, taking the right supplements can make all the difference in promoting optimal gut health for women.

Gut Health Supplements For Women

Certain supplements can help women improve their gut health. This is crucial in today’s world. Having the right tools to encourage women’s gut health can help you better manage stressful situations, as well as the normal phases of life.  

Leaky Gut Revive® works to gently soothe and repair the gut lining. L-glutamine is a powerful amino acid that optimizes gut barrier function. It also supports healthy thyroid and immune function. Probiotics utilize 14 of the most effective beneficial bacteria to restore the microbiome. Candifense actively supports balanced intestinal health with a proprietary blend of plant-based enzymes. Gut Restore with Betaine & HCL supports optimal stomach pH and nutrient absorption.

Final Word on Why Women Have More Gut Health Issues Than Men

Women’s gut health remains a passion of mine, partly because it is closely tied to autoimmune conditions. Understanding the differences between men and women can help us find effective and lasting solutions tailored to the individual’s lifestyles. Poor gut health for women can occur from stressful situations, menstrual cycles, and even menopause. Diet fads and female colon anatomy also play a role.

Supporting gut health is critical to enjoying optimal health. Finding the right gut supplements for women can make all the difference in facilitating healthy hormones and motility of GI tract. Maybe your goal is to balance your stomach acid with Gut Restore with Betaine & HCL. Or, perhaps your goal is to reduce stress and restore nutrient absorption with L-glutamine. My mission is to empower as many women as possible!