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The microbiome, or the collection of microorganisms in your gastrointestinal tract, influences many aspects of our health, from metabolism and immunity to skin integrity. Emerging research also shows the important role the gut microbiome plays in women’s health. Between shifts during pregnancy to changes due to menopause, a healthy gut is becoming more essential in every phase of life.
The Gut Microbiome Changes Throughout the Lifetime
Your microbiome develops and changes all throughout your life starting at birth– with significant differences seen between vaginal and cesarean deliveries. From that moment on, the gut microbiome changes and develops in response to diet, lifestyle, stress, and hormones. Notable hormonal changes in a woman’s life that affect her microbiome include puberty, adolescence, and menopause.
During menopause, the microbiome has lower microbial diversity (which means less function!). One notable strain that plummets during this period is Akkermansia muciniphila, which is considered a keystone strain essential for maintaining gut lining integrity. Other strains like Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, and Clostridium lactifermentans are also depleted in menopause leading to reduced functionality in the gut.
The Microbiome and Estrogen Balancing
The microbiome also supports the regulation of circulating estrogen in the body. When the ovaries make estrogen, it travels to the liver and the GI tract. The estrogen that ends up in the liver can then be converted to estrogen-derivatives, thus circulating again throughout the body.
The gut microbiome is able to turn those estrogen-derivatives back into estrogen in times of need. This network of microorganisms that balances estrogen in the body is known as the estrobolome.
The Estrobolome and Disease
The estrobolome and greater gut microbiome have been linked to a variety of different health conditions through emerging, correlative studies (this means that while the disease state and the microbiome may be related, we still don’t know what the cause is yet). Some diseases include endometriosis, certain cancers, PCOS, and more. Read below to learn more about some of these topics.
A 2023 study found that women with endometriosis had higher levels of Erysipelotrichia bacteria in their gut and four times more estrogen and estrogen metabolites. Other research has linked lower Lactobacillus levels in the gut microbiome to endometriosis.
Research has shown that there are marked differences between the gut microbiome of women with cervical cancer. These observational studies have noted a difference in overall diversity of the gut microbiome, noting an increase in strains like Prevotella and Proteobacteria and decrease in strains like Lachnospiracea.
Compared to a healthy female gut microbiome, women with PCOS have a less diverse gut microbiome with notably less Akkermansia than those without PCOS.
The Microbiome and the Future of Women’s Health
With ongoing research continuously evolving, one thing remains clear: maintaining a balanced and healthy gut microbiome is crucial for our well-being. As scientific understanding advances, we aim to uncover how optimizing gut health—especially with probiotics—can play a vital role in enhancing women's health at every stage of life.