This article was written by the team at NOA (Now Often Always).
We've teamed up with Now Often Always (NOA) to get to the bottom (literally) of something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime: just how closely connected your hormones and your digestion are. We asked their Head of Nutrition Megan Hallett to walk us through the real science, what your body might already be telling you and what you can actually do to get things moving more regularly.
1. Can hormones genuinely be the reason you're "backed up"?
Absolutely! Your gut and your hormones are in constant conversation, so when hormone levels shift, whether that's across the month or across particular life stages, your digestion often feels it.
2. Which hormones are most likely to be involved?
Progesterone and oestrogen are the two worth knowing about. Progesterone dominates the second half of your cycle and acts on smooth muscle, relaxing everything and slowing down digestion. This can lead to irregularity, bloating and gas. Prostaglandins also play a role, which aren't strictly hormones but behave like local messengers. They trigger the shedding of the uterus lining (your period), but can also impact the bowels and bowel movements, leading to “period poos”! Thyroid hormones matter too as thyroid imbalances are a well-known cause of sluggish digestion.
3. What happens to hormone metabolism when you're backed up? Can oestrogen be reabsorbed or "recycled" in the gut if you aren't pooing regularly?
Once your liver has processed oestrogen, it's sent to the gut to be excreted. But certain gut bacteria produce an enzyme that can reactivate that oestrogen, allowing some of it to be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream rather than leaving the body. The longer stool sits in the colon, the more opportunity there is for this reabsorption to happen. So irregularity genuinely can affect how much oestrogen is recirculating.
4. Is it a two-way relationship: hormones affect how often you poo, but how often you poo can also affect your hormones?
Exactly right, and that's worth saying plainly because most people only hear about it going one direction. Hormones influence gut motility, and gut health and regularity influence circulating hormone levels. It's a loop, not a one-way street.
5. Why do some women experience irregularity and bloating before their period, followed by looser stools once it arrives?
In the second half of your cycle, progesterone rises and relaxes smooth muscle throughout the body, including in your gut, which slows things down and can leave you feeling backed up and bloated. Once your period starts, progesterone drops sharply and prostaglandins rise to help the uterus contract and shed its lining. Those same prostaglandins act on the intestines too, which is often why things move much more easily, sometimes too easily, once your period arrives.
6. What have you seen in your clinic that has surprised you about the relationship between irregularity and hormonal symptoms? Are there any common patterns?
What's surprised me most is how often irregularity shows up as the quiet common thread behind skin and cycle complaints. Someone may come in asking about acne along the jawline or periods that feel unpredictable and heavy, and when we look at her bowel habits, she's going two or three days between movements and thinks nothing of it. But again, hormones gets cleared through the gut. If you're not opening your bowels regularly, some of that oestrogen gets reabsorbed instead of leaving the body, and that recirculation can tip the balance towards the symptoms someone may already be struggling with. It's rarely the only piece of the puzzle, but it's one that gets overlooked, probably because irregularity feels like a separate issue rather than a hormonal one.
7. Beyond digestion, which symptoms might suggest that someone's hormones deserve a closer look?
Persistent fatigue, mood changes, disrupted sleep, changes in your cycle, skin changes, and hair thinning are all worth paying attention to, and they're a good reason to ask questions rather than push through.
8. How can magnesium citrate support regularity?
Magnesium citrate draws water into the gut, which softens stool and helps things move more easily.
9. Do you agree that botanicals like ginger and peppermint should never be underestimated when it comes to getting your digestion back on track?Completely agree. Ginger supports gastric emptying and can ease nausea and bloating, and peppermint oil relaxes the muscles of the gut wall, which is why it's one of the better studied options for cramping and digestive symptoms. I am recommending ginger especially in clinic to many clients as it is a really easy one to incorporate. 10. What are your thoughts on L-glutamine supplementation for healthy gut longevity?I really like L-glutamine, and have seen many report feeling like their digestion is less reactive when they have incorporated it, alongside other practices. L-glutamine is the primary fuel source for the cells lining your gut, and there's a reasonable body of research supporting its role in maintaining that gut lining, particularly in people under physical or gut-related stress.
11. What's one "hormonal" symptom women are often told is normal, but shouldn't necessarily have to tolerate?
Period pain is the classic example here. So many women are told that cramps that require significant painkiller use every month, or having to cancel plans is just part of being a woman. It isn't, and it shouldn’t have to be. A little discomfort can be normal, but pain that stops you working, exercising or leaving the house is your body flagging something worth investigating, whether that's inflammation, a hormonal imbalance, or an underlying condition like an underlying condition that needs proper diagnosis. Unfortunately, waiting years for a diagnosis is still common, and that is largely because pain gets dismissed as normal. However, if your period means you can’t live your normal life for a week of your cycle, that deserves attention and to be investigated further.
12. What can a blood test reveal that symptoms alone can't, and why is it useful to look at hormones alongside thyroid function, iron, vitamin D, B12 and blood sugar?
Symptoms can overlap so much that it can be genuinely hard to know what's driving what. Fatigue, low mood, and digestive changes could point to your thyroid, your iron levels, your hormones, or some combination of all three. A blood test gives you the actual data behind the symptoms, so instead of guessing, you and your nutritionist can see what's really going on and build a plan around it.
13. What does the NOA service involve, from taking the blood test to receiving personalised recommendations?
It starts with a simple blood test, which you can have done at home or at one of our partner clinics. Once your results are back, you'll get a 1:1 consultation with one of our qualified nutritionists, who'll talk you through what your results mean and build personalised nutrition and lifestyle recommendations around them. We’re not guessing or providing generic advice, but a plan built on your actual data.
14. What three realistic things can women do to support both their hormones and their regularity?
Prioritise fibre and fluids together, since fibre without enough water can make things worse rather than better. Move your body daily, even gently, as regular movement genuinely supports gut motility. And get curious about your own patterns across the month and track, because that's often where the useful clues are.
UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY, FINALLY
We've partnered with NOA (Now Often Always), a women's health business that combines comprehensive blood testing with a detailed questionnaire about your symptoms, lifestyle and health history. Their women's health nutritionists use these insights to help you better understand your body and provide personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplement guidance, so you can stop guessing and start knowing.
The NOA Now plan costs £299 plus the phlebotomy fee. To see if NOA is right for you, they have offered our customers a complimentary 15 minute consultation with one of their expert nutritionists. This is an opportunity to discuss your general wellness or hormone-related questions and learn more about the support that may be available. There is no obligation to purchase the NOA Now plan.
Read Holly’s story and find out how hormones played a role in her journey.
This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, please seek advice from your GP or a qualified healthcare professional.