Why You're Experiencing Menopause Belly Bloat & What To Do About It, According To Experts

Bloating is a tricky (and frustrating) issue that many people struggle with, and although it can stem from a number of dietary causes, hormones may also play a role, specifically for women in the midst of menopause. It's no secret that your body shifts and changes with time, but why exactly does menopause have any impact on bloating?

Estrogen and progesterone are the two primary female sex hormones, and these levels fluctuate as you enter into menopause, which may cause some adverse reactions within your body. "Too little, or too much progesterone can definitely cause a woman to feel bloated," explains functional medicine doctor Wendie Trubow, M.D. "Typically, as a woman is transitioning into menopause, it's from too little progesterone, so we recommend checking the levels."

These shifts in hormones can directly affect your well-being. "Initially, the reduction and cessation of ovulation leads to a reduction of progesterone, accompanied by fluctuations in estrogen levels and eventually a reduction of estrogen below the threshold necessary for menstruation," notes holistic OBGYN Eden Fromberg, DO. "Menopause is, by definition, the cessation of menstruation for a full year accompanied by these hormonal shifts." 

As previously mentioned, your diet has a major impact on bloating, even outside of menopause, so keeping an eye on trigger foods can be useful. "Processed foods, cold foods, gas-producing foods, greasy foods, gluten, and foods containing sugar, sweets, and refined carbohydrates can all contribute to bloating," explains Fromberg. "The gut microbiome comprises the immune-sensitive organisms that line our small and large intestines, and these essential microbes are especially sensitive to sugar, sweets, and refined carbohydrates."

Of course stress can play a role in bloating as well, and managing feelings of overwhelm in the day-to-day will reflect in your overall health. "The ovaries receive their blood and nerve supply from the adrenal glands, and these endocrine structures are sensitive to each other's actions both hormonally and structurally," says Fromberg, explaining how stress and menopause tie together. "With the onset of menopause, the adrenals may become more stress sensitive from the withdrawal of support from the ovaries."