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Menopause & GI Problems

If you're in the midst of menopause and find that your tummy is as troubled as your temperature, you're not alone. Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are common in women going through the change of life.

  1. Symptoms

    • Some of the problems you may be having include increased nausea, intestinal cramps, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and the feeling that you need to have a bowel movement only to discover that you don't. These symptoms can occur independently or together. You may also find that foods you love, such as coffee, cause problems.

    Primary Causes of GI Trouble

    • Hormones--the same culprits in hot flashes, chills and headaches associated with menopause--are also responsible for changes in your digestive tract during peri-menopause and menopause. Cortisol, which helps the body regulate stress, and the female hormone estrogen work together to keep the body in balance. When estrogen levels fall during menopause, cortisol levels rise, increasing stress levels, and that, in turn, causes digestion to speed up or slow down.

    Secondary Causes of GI Trouble

    • While hormones are the stars of the show, the secondary characters--and the ones over which women have some control--also contribute to digestive troubles during menopause. Some medications, a lack of fiber, a diet high in processed foods, smoking and drinking alcohol also contribute to digestive troubles. Those coupled with the changes in hormones can wreak havoc on a woman's stomach.

    Treatments

    • The treatments for digestive troubles are not specific to menopause, with the exception of choosing hormone replacement therapy, which can restore the balance of hormones. If a woman chooses not to use HRT, the most effective treatment for digestive trouble is a combination of lifestyle changes and some medications. Drink plenty of water, get fiber into your diet (fruits and vegetables are best, but over-the-counter preparations work well, too), relax with meditation and yoga and eat regularly throughout the day. You may also find that foods you once loved are no longer tolerated. Cutting down on those foods will help your stomach calm down. Keeping a food journal for trigger foods can also be very helpful.

    Seek Further Attention

    • If your digestive troubles are interfering with your daily living or are not at all relieved by changes in lifestyle and diet, it's important to visit a doctor for an exam. Bowel issues, especially the feeling that you cannot completely evacuate the bowel, can be a symptom of a more serious illness.

    Twice the Relief

    • Antacids can be helpful to calm a sour stomach and offer women a dose of calcium at a time when osteoporosis is a concern.

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