Bloating. Constipation. Abdominal discomfort that came out of nowhere. If you're in perimenopause or postmenopause and your gut doesn't feel like itself anymore — this episode is for you.

This week I'm joined by Dr. Dawn Sears, gastroenterologist and hepatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, VA physician at VA-North Texas, and physician coach for women through her brand GutGirl MD. Dr. Sears brings decades of clinical expertise and zero tolerance for vague answers to one of the most under-discussed areas of women's midlife health: what menopause actually does to your GI tract.

In this episode:

Why your gut is like a laundry room — and what happens when the machines stop working

How women's GI tracts differ from men's, and why that changes everything about your care

The physiology behind bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain in menopause

The truth about the microbiome — what the science actually supports (and what's mostly hype)

Dr. Sears's go-to recommendations: kefir and simethicone

What you can do this week: eliminate dairy and alcohol, lift weights, walk, hydrate, and fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables

Colon cancer in young adults: why the data is alarming, what's driving the rise, and what screening options are available right now

Myth-busting: colon cleanses, what "normal" bowel frequency actually means, and how to protect your gut when you travel this summer

This is the conversation most women never get to have with a GI doctor. We're having it today.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Carolyn Moyers

📸 Instagram: @drcarolynmoyers

🎥 YouTube: @drcarolynmoyers

🌐 Website: www.skywomenshealth.com

Connect with Dr. Dawn Sears: @gutgirlmd