Hormone Fluctuations & Gut Motility

Hormones play a huge role in how your gut functions- especially when it comes to motility, or how well things move through your digestive tract.

If you've ever noticed that your digestion slows down, your belly feels heavy, or you suddenly feel constipated right before your period or mid-cycle, you're not imagining it. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone- especially during ovulation and the luteal phase- can directly affect gut motility, making it harder to “go,” even if nothing else has changed in your diet or routine.

But it’s not just sex hormones.
Your thyroid hormones are major regulators of metabolism and movement throughout the gut. When thyroid function is sluggish (even subclinically), it can slow digestion and increase the risk of SIBO or chronic constipation.

Then there’s cortisol, your primary stress hormone. High or dysregulated cortisol levels may disrupt the nervous system's communication with the gut, leading to mixed signals around motility- sometimes causing loose stools, other times making everything come to a standstill.

And here’s something many people don’t realize: around 90–95% of your body’s serotonin is made in the gut. While serotonin is best known for its role in mood, it also helps regulate intestinal movement. If your gut is inflamed, dysbiotic, or overwhelmed, serotonin production may be off- which means your motility might be, too.

So if you’re feeling bloated, backed up, or irregular, don’t just blame food.
Look at the hormone-gut connection. It's often the missing link. Hope this was helpful!