Struggling with bloating, cramps, or mood swings? Here’s how I discovered if it was IBS or hormonal imbalance — and how I healed both.

I used to feel like a stranger in my own body. I was constantly bloated, my periods were irregular, I had mood swings I couldn’t explain, and digestion felt unpredictable. Some days, I blamed IBS. Other days, I thought it was hormones. The confusion was exhausting.

Then I realized something important — IBS and hormonal imbalance are deeply connected. What I thought was a digestion issue turned out to be both gut and hormone related. In this blog, I’ll help you identify if you’re struggling with IBS or hormonal imbalance, or both — and what to do about it.

IBS or Hormonal Imbalance – Why It’s So Hard to Tell

Let’s start with the truth: the symptoms overlap. Bloating, cramps, fatigue, mood swings, constipation, weight gain — they show up in both.

Here’s how I started breaking it down:-

I tracked my symptoms for 21 days — and saw a clear pattern. My bloating worsened before my period. My poop changed with my cycle. That’s when I knew I wasn’t dealing with just IBS.

Gut-Hormone Axis: What the Science Says

Your gut isn’t just a digestion machine — it regulates estrogen, cortisol, insulin, and more. When your microbiome is off, your hormones go haywire.

Key links between IBS or hormonal imbalance:

• Estrogen detox happens in the gut

• High cortisol (stress) = worse IBS + worse PMS

• Insulin resistance = cravings, bloating, inflammation

That’s why gut health is the foundation of hormonal healing — and vice versa.

Signs You Might Have Both (Like I Did)

If you’re seeing 3 or more of these, chances are you’re dealing with both IBS and hormonal imbalance:

• Bloating + cramps + irregular periods

• Mood swings that worsen with constipation

• Sugar cravings + gas after meals

• Breast tenderness + IBS flares

• PMS anxiety + unpredictable poop

• Skin breakouts + sluggish digestion

✅ I didn’t feel better until I addressed both — not just one.

What Helped Me Heal Both Gut & Hormones

These 5 changes helped me balance IBS or hormonal imbalance without medication:

1. Seed Cycling

• Flax + pumpkin (Day 1–14), Sesame + sunflower (Day 15–28)

• Balances estrogen + progesterone

• Helped regulate periods & reduce IBS cramping

2. Curd + Banana + Seed Mix Bowl (Daily)

• Calms gut lining

• Supports estrogen detox

• Magnesium + fiber = less PMS mood swings

3. Walking + Morning Sunlight

• Reduces cortisol, improves insulin

• Boosts gut motility

• Helped my period pain drop from 8/10 to 3/10

4. Avoiding Dairy & Onion-Garlic

• Major IBS triggers

• Dairy worsened hormonal acne + bloating

5. Ayurvedic Powders

• Shatavari (balances hormones)

• Triphala (cleanses gut)

• Fenugreek (blood sugar + PMS)

If you’re feeling lost between your bloating and your periods, you’re not alone. I was too. But once I started asking if it was IBS or hormonal imbalance, I finally found a path that worked. You don’t have to guess forever — your body has been telling you all along.

Tracking Method That Helped Me Find the Root

I made 2 columns in my journal:

1. Digestive Symptoms: Bloating, poop quality, gas, meal triggers

2. Hormonal Signs: Breast tenderness, mood, cycle dates, acne, cravings

In 2 months, I saw exact overlaps.

Poop slowed before period.
Heaviest flow = IBS flare.
Anxiety = during ovulation + before period.

That’s when I knew it wasn’t either/or — it was both.

Related Topic :- 7 Easy Morning Detox Rituals to Boost Weight Loss and Gut Health Naturally

You May also Like –Homemade Protein Powder

FAQs About IBS or Hormonal Imbalance

Final Thoughts: Trust Your Body’s Patterns

Healing wasn’t a straight line. But when I stopped guessing and started listening, things shifted. If you’re stuck wondering if it’s IBS or hormonal imbalance, start tracking, not fearing. Your body isn’t broken — it’s just begging for balance.