GUT FEELINGS: The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Hormonal Imbalance
By Our Daughters Foundation
GUT FEELINGS: The Hidden Link Between Gut Health and Hormonal Imbalance
By Our Daughters Foundation
1. The Gut Microbiome: Your Internal Ecosystem
Your gut isn’t just a tube for digesting food. It’s home to trillions of bacteria that:
• Help break down food
• Make key nutrients (like B vitamins)
• Train your immune system
• And — importantly — regulate estrogen levels
This bacterial community is called the gut microbiome, and when it’s healthy and diverse, it supports balanced hormones. But when the microbiome is out of balance — a condition called dysbiosis — problems can arise.
2. Estrobolome: The Gut’s Hormone Filte
Inside the gut, a specific group of bacteria known as the estrobolome helps process estrogen. These bacteria produce enzymes (like beta-glucuronidase) that influence how much estrogen is reabsorbed into the bloodstream versus excreted.
When the estrobolome is overactive or underactive, it can lead to:
• Excess circulating estrogen → linked to endometriosis, fibroids, PMS, and breast tendernes
• Too little estrogen → contributing to mood changes, bone loss, and vaginal dryness
So a disrupted gut can directly amplify hormonal imbalances.
3. Inflammation: The Common Denominator
Both gut dysbiosis and endometriosis are associated with chronic inflammation. When the gut barrier is weakened (a condition sometimes called “leaky gut”), it allows inflammatory molecules to pass into the bloodstream. This triggers an immune response — and in people with endometriosis or PCOS, it can worsen pelvic pain, fatigue, and hormonal chaos.
4. What the Research Says
While this field is still developing, early studies have found:
• Women with endometriosis often have altered gut microbiomes compared to those without the condition. [Study: Ata et al., 2019, Scientific Reports]
• A high-fiber, plant-rich diet may help support a more balanced gut flora and improve estrogen metabolism. [Study: Fuhrman et al., 2004, Journal of Nutrition]
• Some researchers are exploring probiotic therapy as a future tool for managing hormone-related conditions.
5. What Can You Do?
You can’t fully control your hormones — but you can support your gut.
Here are some gut-friendly, hormone-supporting habits:
• Eat more fiber: vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seeds
• Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods
• Include fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi
• Consider a probiotic — talk to your provider first
• Manage stress — cortisol (the stress hormone) also affects gut balance
• Support liver detoxification (which works with your gut to clear estrogen): eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower
Final Thoughts
The gut isn’t just about digestion — it’s a key player in how your body handles hormones, pain, and inflammation.
If you’re struggling with endometriosis, PCOS, or unexplained hormone symptoms, supporting your gut might be an empowering place to start.
Want to Learn More?
Here are some helpful articles and research:
• The Gut Microbiome and Estrogen Metabolism – NIH
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471213/
• Gut Microbiota and Endometriosis – Scientific Reports
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-39645-2
• How the Gut Influences Hormones – Integrative Medicine Journal
1. The Gut Microbiome: Your Internal Ecosystem
Your gut isn’t just a tube for digesting food. It’s home to trillions of bacteria that:
• Help break down food
• Make key nutrients (like B vitamins)
• Train your immune system
• And — importantly — regulate estrogen levels
This bacterial community is called the gut microbiome, and when it’s healthy and diverse, it supports balanced hormones. But when the microbiome is out of balance — a condition called dysbiosis — problems can arise.
2. Estrobolome: The Gut’s Hormone Filte
Inside the gut, a specific group of bacteria known as the estrobolome helps process estrogen. These bacteria produce enzymes (like beta-glucuronidase) that influence how much estrogen is reabsorbed into the bloodstream versus excreted.
When the estrobolome is overactive or underactive, it can lead to:
• Excess circulating estrogen → linked to endometriosis, fibroids, PMS, and breast tendernes
• Too little estrogen → contributing to mood changes, bone loss, and vaginal dryness
So a disrupted gut can directly amplify hormonal imbalances.
3. Inflammation: The Common Denominator
Both gut dysbiosis and endometriosis are associated with chronic inflammation. When the gut barrier is weakened (a condition sometimes called “leaky gut”), it allows inflammatory molecules to pass into the bloodstream. This triggers an immune response — and in people with endometriosis or PCOS, it can worsen pelvic pain, fatigue, and hormonal chaos.
4. What the Research Says
While this field is still developing, early studies have found:
• Women with endometriosis often have altered gut microbiomes compared to those without the condition. [Study: Ata et al., 2019, Scientific Reports]
• A high-fiber, plant-rich diet may help support a more balanced gut flora and improve estrogen metabolism. [Study: Fuhrman et al., 2004, Journal of Nutrition]
• Some researchers are exploring probiotic therapy as a future tool for managing hormone-related conditions.
5. What Can You Do?
You can’t fully control your hormones — but you can support your gut.
Here are some gut-friendly, hormone-supporting habits:
• Eat more fiber: vegetables, fruits, legumes, and seeds
• Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods
• Include fermented foods: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi
• Consider a probiotic — talk to your provider first
• Manage stress — cortisol (the stress hormone) also affects gut balance
• Support liver detoxification (which works with your gut to clear estrogen): eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower
Final Thoughts
The gut isn’t just about digestion — it’s a key player in how your body handles hormones, pain, and inflammation.
If you’re struggling with endometriosis, PCOS, or unexplained hormone symptoms, supporting your gut might be an empowering place to start.
Want to Learn More?
Here are some helpful articles and research:
• The Gut Microbiome and Estrogen Metabolism – NIH
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6471213/
• Gut Microbiota and Endometriosis – Scientific Reports
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-39645-2
• How the Gut Influences Hormones – Integrative Medicine Journal
Join Us: Make a Difference Today
Your support can transform lives. Every donation helps us fund research, advocate for better care, and provide essential grants to women facing debilitating conditions.
Join Us: Make a Difference Today
Your support can transform lives. Every donation helps us fund research, advocate for better care, and provide essential grants to women facing debilitating conditions.
The Overlooked Link: Allen-Masters Syndrome and Endometriosis
The Overlooked Link: Allen-Masters Syndrome and Endometriosis
How a Little-Known Condition Can Complicate Diagnosis and Treatment for Women in Pain
What Is Allen-Masters Syndrome?
Allen-Masters Syndrome (AMS) refers to a condition where the ligaments that support the uterus become torn or stretched, often due to trauma or childbirth. The damage causes the uterus to become hypermobile, or “floppy,” which can lead to chronic pelvic pain, abnormal uterine positioning, and a range of gynecological symptoms.
First described in the 1950s by gynecologists Allen and Masters, the syndrome was initially observed in women who experienced difficult or forceful deliveries. However, it's now known that other pelvic trauma—such as surgeries, repeated inflammation, or even invasive endometriosis—can also play a role.
How It Feels: The Symptoms
The symptoms of AMS often overlap with other pelvic disorders, including endometriosis, which makes it incredibly hard to diagnose:
• Chronic pelvic pain, especially on one side
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
• A feeling of “heaviness” or dragging in the pelvis
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Referred pain to the lower back or legs
• Pain made worse by certain movements or positions
These symptoms can persist even after surgery for endometriosis or fibroids, leaving women frustrated and wondering why their treatments didn’t work.
The Complication with Endometriosis
Endometriosis and Allen-Masters Syndrome can coexist—and when they do, they complicate each other.
Here’s how:
1. Mimicking or Masking Each Other
AMS pain can feel nearly identical to endometriosis. In laparoscopic surgery, torn ligaments or peritoneal defects might be mistaken for endometriosis—or missed entirely.
2. Worsening Each Other
The uterine instability caused by AMS may increase friction and inflammation in the pelvis, potentially exacerbating endometriosis symptoms. Likewise, the invasive nature of endometriosis can weaken uterine ligaments, creating a cycle of worsening pain.
3. Delaying Diagnosis
Because AMS isn’t well known, many surgeons focus only on excising visible endometriosis lesions. If ligament tears or pelvic instability aren’t also addressed, pain may persist despite "successful" surgery.
4. Influencing Fertility
While endometriosis is a known contributor to infertility, AMS can add to the challenge by altering the position of the uterus, interfering with sperm transport, or making embryo implantation more difficult.
Diagnosis: Why It’s Often Missed
AMS is best diagnosed through clinical examination and often requires a high index of suspicion from an experienced gynecologic surgeon. Imaging like MRI or ultrasound may not show ligament damage clearly. In some cases, laparoscopic exploration is the only way to confirm it, by observing a hypermobile uterus or peritoneal defects (like dimples or windows in the pelvic lining).
Unfortunately, many OB/GYNs are not trained to look for Allen-Masters Syndrome, which means it’s often overlooked—especially in patients already diagnosed with endometriosis.
What Can Be Done?
If AMS is suspected, the treatment may include:
• Pelvic physical therapy to support surrounding muscles and reduce pain
• Surgical repair or suspension of the damaged ligaments, often during laparoscopy
• Pain management strategies including nerve blocks or hormonal regulation if endometriosis is also present
• Lifestyle modifications to reduce strain on the pelvis (avoiding certain exercises, managing constipation, etc.)
The Takeaway
Allen-Masters Syndrome may not be as well-known as endometriosis, but its impact is very real—especially for women who feel like they've tried everything and still have no answers.
If you’ve had surgery for endometriosis and your pain persists, or if your symptoms don’t quite fit the typical endo profile, it might be worth asking your doctor about Allen-Masters Syndrome.
Women deserve full answers—not partial relief.
Sources & Further Reading
• Howard FM. (2003). Chronic Pelvic Pain. Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Vercellini P et al. (2006). Chronic pelvic pain: pathogenesis and therapy. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Tu FF et al. (2017). Beyond Endometriosis: Recognizing and Treating Comorbid Pelvic Pain Disorders. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology
