#estrogen

#estrogen

It started out small, like little coarse black chin hairs popping up everywhere, as though I were one of the three little pigs. Now, it's an incredibly irritable itch down in the deep recesses of my ear. My ears have always been a little extra waxy, but the itching is new, and I honestly didn't think much of it until a recent episode of the podcast Good Hang.

Estrogen and progesterone do more than regulate the menstrual cycle. They directly influence how the digestive system works, affecting gut movement, water balance, gas production, and sensitivity. When these hormones rise and fall during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or bloating in menopause , digestion often becomes unpredictable. Understanding how this happens helps explain why bloating and discomfort follow hormonal patterns.