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Menopause comes with more than hot flashes — gut troubles are a major issue too. A new study of 1,832 women found that over 65% across all menopause stages reported bloating and gas above the normal severity range. Researchers are now exploring whether anxiety is driving the gut symptoms, or the other way around.
Menopause comes with more than hot flashes — gut troubles are a major issue too. A new study from the University of Calgary found that bloating and gas are a persistent burden for women across all phases of menopause — premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause. Unlike other GI symptoms, which affected far fewer women, bloating and gas stood out as uniquely widespread and severe.
The study, part of the MOMENTUM Canadian menopause cohort, enrolled 1,832 women aged 40–60. Participants completed questionnaires, provided stool and blood samples, and underwent physical and cognitive assessments. Researchers also noted that 17.5% of participants reported moderate to severe anxiety, with rates climbing from ~15% in premenopause to ~19% in peri- and postmenopause.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This is just the baseline phase of a multiyear study. Next steps include analyzing gut microbiota and exploring whether anxiety triggers GI symptoms — or vice versa — which could reshape how clinicians approach menopausal care.
