How The Gut Microbiome Influences Estrogen After Menopause with David Meriwether, PhD

In this episode of The Mind–Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer speaks with Dr. David Meriwether, a scientist at UCLA’s Goodman Luskin Microbiome Center, about a novel and rapidly developing area of microbiome research with important implications for menopause and women’s health.

Drawing on recent findings published in Nature and related journals, Dr. Meriwether explains how the estrobolome — a group of gut microbes specialized to reactivate and recycle estrogen — may contribute to circulating estrogen levels even after ovarian production declines. This microbial recycling may help explain why some women experience severe menopausal symptoms while others report relatively few disruptions.

The conversation explores how menopause may represent a system-wide transition involving the gut, the liver, and microbial metabolism — not simply a loss of ovarian hormone production. They also discuss how changes in the gut microbiome may create feedback loops that influence symptom severity and long-term health.

This episode offers a grounded, science-based perspective on where menopause research is headed, and how future non-hormonal strategies targeting the gut microbiome may eventually complement or expand current treatment options.

Key Topics Covered:

• What the estrobolome is and how it recycles estrogen
• Why menopausal symptoms vary so widely among women
• How the gut microbiome changes after menopause
• The role of microbial metabolism in hormonal health
• Potential non-hormonal approaches to supporting women during menopause

This is a practical, science-driven discussion for anyone interested in women’s health, menopause, and the evolving role of the gut microbiome.