Why digestion can change during perimenopause
If your digestion has felt different since your forties, with more bloating, a slower and heavier feeling, or constipation that was never an issue before, you are not imagining it. Digestive changes are a common part of perimenopause, and they deserve just as much attention as hot flushes and broken sleep. This post looks at why that happens and what a colon hydrotherapy session involves.
Perimenopause is the transition leading up to menopause, and it can begin years before periods stop. As oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate, the effects are felt throughout the body, including in the gut. Research into menopause and digestive health is growing, and studies link this stage of life with changes in gut motility (how quickly food moves through you) and shifts in the balance of gut bacteria. Bloating, wind and constipation are among the symptoms women report most during these years, and broken sleep and a stressful schedule can add to it, because the gut and brain influence each other in both directions. You can read more in our post on menopause and gut health.
Colon hydrotherapy: what a session involves
Colon hydrotherapy gently introduces warm, filtered water into the colon in a calm, private setting. You rest comfortably while the water flow and temperature are controlled throughout, and your comfort is monitored for the whole session.
Every woman’s experience of perimenopause is different, so always follow advice from your GP about your health and any new symptoms. Colon hydrotherapy is a complementary wellness practice and is not a substitute for medical care. A session is simply unhurried time focused on you, with a practitioner who listens to what has been going on and answers your questions honestly.
What a session is like at Optimal Wellness
Your appointment takes place in a calm, private treatment room at the clinic in Templeogue, Dublin 6W. The clinic uses the Herrmann Hydromat, a German-manufactured closed system, so waste stays enclosed within the equipment and the whole process is discreet, with high standards of hygiene and privacy throughout.
Your treatment is carried out by Erika Doolan, a registered colon hydrotherapist and nutritional therapist, with professional memberships including RICTAT, NTOI and NRRI. Water flow and temperature are controlled throughout, your comfort is monitored for the whole session.
Erika is also a nutritional therapist, so you can chat about food and everyday gut-friendly habits during your visit, which is a natural fit for the perimenopause years.
Supporting your gut day to day
A few simple habits that support digestion at any stage of life:
- Eat a variety of fibre-rich foods: vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains.
- Keep hydrated, especially if night sweats are part of your picture.
- Keep moving, even a daily walk is kind to your digestion.
- Give yourself time to eat without rushing.
Thinking about booking?
If perimenopause has changed how your digestion feels and you are curious about colonics, you can book a session at optimalwellness.ie/booking. If it is your first visit, our step-by-step guide to your first colon hydrotherapy visit walks through exactly what to expect. And if anything is on your mind before you decide, get in touch and ask; there is no such thing as a silly question.
