Your Gut Is Talking to Your Hormones: The Menopause Microbiome Connection

The Menopause Mastery Show | Your Gut Is Talking to Your Hormones: The Menopause Microbiome Connection | Ep. 295 with Dr. Eddie Romo 🌿Welcome to The Menopause Mastery Show! 👉 What if your gut microbiome is influencing far more than digestion? In this episode of Menopause Mastery, Dr. Betty Murray sits down with microbiologist Dr. Eddie Romo, to explore the powerful connection between the gut microbiome, estrogen metabolism, menopause, inflammation, and brain health. Dr. Romo explains why the microbiome should be viewed as an active metabolic ecosystem—not simply a collection of "good" and "bad" bacteria. They discuss the estrobolome, the role gut bacteria play in estrogen recycling, and why changes in estrogen during perimenopause and menopause can also change the microbiome. The conversation also challenges the idea that probiotics are a universal solution. Dr. Romo explains why personalized, longitudinal microbiome testing may provide a much clearer picture than a single snapshot, and why factors like diet, sleep, exercise, stress, hormones, fiber, fermented foods, and polyphenols all matter. They also explore the emerging relationship between the gut and Alzheimer's risk, systemic inflammation, the blood-brain barrier, hormone replacement therapy, and women's health—and discuss the future of more personalized microbiome and hormone testing. ☑️ Your gut microbiome is an active part of your biology—not a passive collection of bacteria. Supporting a healthy, diverse gut ecosystem may be an important piece of protecting hormonal balance, metabolic health, and brain function throughout menopause and beyond! 🔗 To connect with Dr. Romo: https://www.instagram.com/dr.eddieromo https://www.phbio.ai/ 00:00:00 — Introduction: Menopause, Hormones & the Microbiome 00:01:27 — Dr. Eddie Romo's Journey Into Microbiology 00:03:27 — Your Microbiome Is More Than "Bacteria" 00:04:38 — The Gut-Brain Connection & Alzheimer's 00:06:40 — Alzheimer's Isn't Just a Disease of the Brain 00:08:07 — Why Brain Plaques May Not Tell the Whole Story 00:09:18 — Leaky Gut, Inflammation & Brain Health 00:10:28 — The Microbiome-Hormone Connection 00:12:14 — What Is the Estrobolome? 00:14:17 — Beta-Glucuronidase & Estrogen Recycling 00:15:27 — Why the Microbiome Changes During Menopause 00:18:03 — AI & The Future of Personalized Health 00:19:21 — Why Women's Health Research Matters 00:20:03 — Estrogen, Gut Lining & Microbial Diversity 00:22:18 — Inflammation Is Multifactorial 00:24:19 — Hormone Replacement Therapy & the Gut 00:26:42 — Could Hormone Therapy Affect Your Microbiome? 00:27:23 — Menopause, IBS & Digestive Symptoms 00:28:45 — Are Probiotics Overhyped? 00:30:42 — Why Your Microbiome Is Uniquely Yours 00:31:30 — Why Longitudinal Microbiome Testing Matters 00:32:18 — From Probiotics to Personalized Interventions 00:33:34 — Fiber, Fermented Foods & Polyphenols 00:35:01 — The Future of Microbiome Testing 00:36:39 — Your Microbiome Is Constantly Changing 00:37:29 — Toward Personalized Microbiome Recommendations 00:38:22 — Why Current Microbiome Testing Has Limitations 00:40:30 — Condition-Specific Microbiome Testing 00:42:05 — The Bigger Picture: Hormones + Gut + Systemic Health 00:43:18 — Where to Follow Dr. Romo & What's Coming Next 00:44:30 — What's Next for Menopause Mastery 00:45:10 — Closing & Listener Call to Action 📌 Connect with Dr. Betty Murray: Website: https://www.drbettymurray.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ ✅ Let us know what you think! Like, comment, and subscribe on YouTube: @drbettymurray 🔗 Links: 🔹The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ 🔹Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ 🔹Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ 🎙️ More from the Podcast: Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time. #menopausemastery #menopausepodcast #drbettymurray #menopause #perimenopause #postmenopause #andropause #womenshealth #hormonehealth #guthealth #microbiome #midlifehealth