Women's Health: Menopause, Digestion & the Quiet Changes We Don’t Always Talk About

When we think about perimenopause or menopause, we often think of the better-known symptoms: hot flashes, sleep changes, mood shifts, brain fog, changes in energy, or irregular cycles.

But sometimes, the changes are quieter.

They show up in digestion. In how the body responds to food.In bloating, reflux, discomfort, or a feeling that “something has changed,” even if we cannot immediately explain what.

For many women, this stage of life brings a new awareness of the body. Foods we once tolerated easily may suddenly feel different. Meals may sit heavier. Digestion may feel slower. Symptoms like acid reflux, throat clearing, coughing, gas, or a sour taste in the mouth can begin to appear — sometimes without the classic feeling of heartburn.

And because these symptoms are not always openly discussed, many women are left wondering:

Is this just me? Is this stress? Is this ageing? Is this hormones?

Book your spot here: https://www.bezuidenhoutsocialclub.nl/events/community-circle-morning-june

The Menopause–Gut Connection

Our guest speaker for the June BHSC Community Circle Morning, Audrey Dickinson, is a nutritional therapist with years of experience supporting people with digestive health.

And like many women, she has also experienced first-hand how menopause can affect the gut.

During menopause, hormonal changes can influence more than our mood, cycle, or temperature regulation. They may also affect the gut microbiome, digestion, food sensitivity, inflammation, and how comfortably food moves through the body.

In other words, the gut and hormones are deeply connected.

This is one of the reasons why perimenopause and menopause can sometimes feel confusing. Symptoms may not appear in one neat category. They can show up physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially — often all at once.

Reflux Is Not Always So Simple

One of the interesting points Audrey brings into this conversation is that reflux is not always simply about “too much stomach acid.”

In some cases, it may be connected to how well we digest food, how much pressure builds up in the stomach, how the gut is moving, how stress affects the nervous system, and how the body is adapting to hormonal change.

This does not mean there is one simple answer for everyone. But it does invite a more curious and compassionate question:

Instead of only asking, “How do I stop this symptom?” we might also ask, “What is my body trying to tell me?”

A More Gentle Way to Listen to the Body

What is special about Audrey’s approach is that it is not about fear, shame, or quick fixes.

It is about paying attention.

It is about noticing what has changed. Eating in a way that supports the body. Understanding the role of stress. Supporting digestion gently. And recognising that menopause is not just a hormonal event, but a whole-body transition.

For many women, this can be a deeply personal phase. It can bring frustration, uncertainty, and sometimes a sense of not quite recognising your own body anymore.

But it can also become an invitation to reconnect with yourself in a new way.

To slow down. To ask better questions. To support yourself with more care. And to realise that you are not the only one navigating these changes.

Join Us for the June Community Circle Morning

At our June BHSC Community Circle Morning, Audrey Dickinson will join us as our guest speaker to explore nutrition, digestion, perimenopause, and menopause in a warm and accessible way.

This will not be a formal lecture or a medical deep dive. It will be a gentle, informative, and honest conversation about what many women experience, but do not always have the space to talk about.

Together, we will look at how hormonal changes can affect the gut, why symptoms like reflux or digestive discomfort may appear during this stage of life, and what supportive steps may help us feel more balanced and at home in our bodies.

As always with BHSC Community Circle Mornings, there will also be space to connect, reflect, ask questions, and meet others in a safe and friendly setting.

If this is a topic that speaks to you — whether you are in perimenopause, menopause, approaching that phase, or simply curious to understand your body better — you are very welcome to join us.

Sometimes the most reassuring thing is not just getting more information.

It is realising that we are not alone in the experience.

Community Circle Morning [June] "Stay Meno+Positive"

📣 This edition of the Community Circle Morning will be guided by our guest speaker Audrey Dickinson, Nutritional Therapist.

Tuesday, 09 Jun 2026  | Wijkz Bezuidenhout, The Hague

Book your spot here: https://www.bezuidenhoutsocialclub.nl/events/community-circle-morning-june