Could you have high β-glucuronidase?
The gut microbiome plays a critical role in regulating hormone levels, particularly through a subset of microbes known as the "estrobolome." The estrobolome consists of gut bacteria capable of metabolising estrogens, influencing their circulation and excretion.
These bacteria produce enzymes like β-glucuronidase which deconjugates estrogens in the gut, allowing them to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream rather than excreted.
This process can elevate circulating estrogen levels, potentially contributing to conditions like estrogen dominance, where estrogen levels are disproportionately high relative to progesterone that is strongly linked to heavy, painful menstrual cycle or endometriosis.
We can test for β-glucuronidase.
The "pause" also changes your microbiome - sorry ladies
During perimenopause and menopause the gut undergoes significant changes driven primarily by the decline in estrogen levels, which influences the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome.
Research, such as the 2022 study in mSystems, shows that postmenopausal women exhibit reduced microbial diversity and a shift in the gut microbiome. Specific estrogen-metabolising bacteria were found in lower abundance in postmenopausal women.
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