PCOS and IBS: Understanding the Gut-Hormone Connection

Did you know that up to 70% of women with PCOS go undiagnosed? This high number is largely because there’s no single test that definitively confirms polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and its wide range of symptoms often overlap with other conditions. Sometimes, women receive incorrect diagnoses, while other times, they may have multiple coexisting conditions that all require attention. 

That’s why it’s crucial to fully understand which conditions you’re dealing with, identify which symptoms belong to which diagnoses, and recognize how they interact. This way, you can create an effective, personalized treatment plan. This is the first step in addressing your unique health needs and finding much-deserved symptom relief.

But what conditions are often diagnosed with PCOS? We’ve discussed hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, ADHD, Lupus, depression, type 2 diabetes, endometriosis, and Hashimoto’s—and today, I’m discussing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). I’ll break down the connection between IBS and PCOS so you can start healing and finding symptom relief!

PCOS and IBS: Understanding the Gut-Hormone Connection

When you decide to start managing your PCOS, the long list of chronic symptoms can make the process feel overwhelming. Add another condition with even more symptoms to the to-do list and the task feels even more demanding!

Luckily, when you understand the connection between your conditions, like PCOS and IBS, you can start targeting the root causes of your symptoms. And from there? Relief isn’t just possible; it’s totally within reach through natural, intentional lifestyle changes you can make on your own.

Here’s what you need to know:  

Are IBS And PCOS Related?

Yes! There does seem to be a connection between IBS and PCOS. This is because there tends to be a higher prevalence of IBS in women already diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). But, before we get too far, let’s talk about IBS:

What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

IBS is a chronic gut disorder that hinders how your digestive system functions. With this condition, there is no visible damage or disease, but for some reason, the gut doesn’t function properly. With the movement of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), flare-ups and remission can ebb and flow, making symptom management difficult. And, like PCOS, the root issue isn’t totally clear, but several factors are at play.

Inflammation, dysregulation in the gut-brain axis, hormonal changes, food sensitivities, and imbalances of gut bacteria all seem to contribute to IBS. Symptoms of IBS include bloating, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and issues with bowel habits and stool consistency. If you’re a Cyster, you’re probably thinking that a lot of these symptoms are similar to PCOS symptoms!

The Connection Between PCOS and IBS

Both PCOS and IBS are associated with gut health issues. The gut is the hub of communication of the whole body. So, when there’s an issue with your digestive system, it impacts hormone balance, inflammation, cognitive health, and more! Therefore, it’s possible that both conditions have the same cause or that one condition could trigger the other. 

Similarities of PCOS and IBS

Hormonal Imbalances:

Both PCOS and IBS have similar imbalances of sex hormones. Testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) are often dysregulated in both conditions. Ultimately, these hormones can all impact gut motility and sensitivity. 

Inflammation: 

Inflammation is natural. It’s how the body fights off injury, infection, and stress. However, when inflammation is constant, it does more harm than good. In both IBS and PCOS, inflammation is chronic. This means it disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, weakens the intestinal lining, increases foot sensitivities, and makes the digest system more reactive overall. 

Gut-Brain-Hormone Axis Connection:

Remember when I said the gut is the central hub of communication for the whole body? Well, in both PCOS and IBS, the gut-brain-hormone axis (the system that allows your gut, brain, and hormones to “talk” to each other) can become disrupted. 

As stress increases, this communication breakdown gets worse, creating a vicious cycle. Mood issues (like anxiety or depression) can trigger gut symptoms, while digestive problems can worsen mental health. It becomes a constant feedback loop that makes both conditions harder to manage unless the root problem is addressed. 

Overlapping Symptoms: 

There are a lot of overlapping symptoms of PCOS and IBS. This, of course, suggests similar root issues, which is good news! Similar root issues mean similar treatment plans, too. Here are the overlapping symptoms of PCOS and IBS:

• Bloating
• Abdominal Pain
• Pelvic pain or Pressure
• Constipation
• Diarrhea 
• Gas
• Fatigue 
• Brain Fog
• Mood Swings
• Food Sensitivities or Intolerances
• Weight Gain or Difficulty Losing Weight
• Sugar Cravings
• Irregular Bowel Movements
• Sleep Disturbances
• Skin Issues 

Does PCOS Cause IBS Symptoms? 

Short answer? No, PCOS doesn’t directly cause IBS symptoms. However, if you’re a woman dealing with both, the root issues behind PCOS can worsen IBS symptoms—and vice versa. The two conditions often feed off each other, making symptom management more complex if both aren’t addressed. 

So, IBS in women with PCOS is often harder to manage than in women with IBS alone. One of the biggest reasons this combination is so challenging is because of insulin resistance, which is common in PCOS. Insulin resistance can negatively affect gut health, hormone imbalance, and inflammation—all of which fuels IBS symptoms.

When we eat glucose (AKA sugar), our cells convert that glucose into energy and release insulin to manage everything else. However, when you have insulin resistance, your body doesn’t respond effectively. Instead of converting the sugar into energy, your body stores it as fat and absorbs it into the bloodstream. This process can lead to high levels of testosterone, trigger inflammation, and worsen gut health. And from this, you can experience gut dysbiosis, gut motility issues, worsened gut sensitivity, and more. As I said, it’s all one big feedback loop. 

Additionally, high insulin levels lead to intense sugar cravings. If you give in to those cravings and eat a lot of highly processed carbs, that can be bad for gut health, too. Other reasons for worsened symptoms are the prevalence of stress, changes in the menstrual cycle, inflammation, and imbalances of male and female sex hormones in both conditions. Needless to say, living with both IBS and PCOS can seriously impact your quality of life—especially if the conditions are left unmanaged.

How To Manage PCOS And Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Adopt a gluten- and dairy-free, anti-inflammatory diet.

One of the best ways to manage the root issues of IBS and PCOS is with an intentional diet! You can experience HUGE symptom relief from both conditions just by changing the way you nourish your body. Many women looking for symptom relief often turn to the FODmap diet, but it doesn’t always work for everyone. I recommend a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet to balance hormones, reduce inflammation, and boost insulin sensitivity. You can find all of my favorite PCOS-friendly (and IBS-friendly!) recipes on The Cysterhood app.

Keep a journal to identify trigger foods. 

Though a gluten- and dairy-free diet is a good start, several other foods could be triggering your gut symptoms as well. Keep a food journal to track how your symptoms are impacted by what you eat. Here’s a physical food sensitivity journal, but there are great apps for food sensitivity tracking, too! 

Be mindful of your macros. 

To support your digestion, it’s important to eat balanced meals that include a good ratio of fat, carbs, and protein (macros). This can help with many gut issues of PCOS and IBS, including bloating, blood sugar crashes, constipation, and even food cravings. Balanced meals also support hormone regulation, steady energy, and a more resilient gut-brain connection—key to managing both conditions long-term.

Need help with this? Here’s how to track your macros. 

Include prebiotic and probiotic foods. 

Prebiotic- and probiotic-rich foods can also be beneficial for digestive health. Think of foods like onions, garlic, asparagus, artichokes, apples, oats, kimchi, miso, kombucha, and coconut yogurt. If you’ve downloaded The Cysterhood app, there are tons of recipes on there that include these nutrient-dense ingredients.  

Take strategic vitamins and supplements. 

Supporting your digestion nutritionally is so important when managing IBS and PCOS. However, nutrient gaps are inevitable even with a healthy diet. This is why it’s essential to talk to your doctor about supplements that can improve your gut health, hormone balance, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

Here’s what I recommend:

Stay hydrated with water and herbal teas. 

Hydration plays a key role in hormone balance, digestion, and inflammation, so be sure to drink plenty of water. However, herbal teas can offer additional benefits including calming inflammation, supporting liver detox, easing bloating, and promoting proper adrenal health. For a powerful herbal tea blend, drink a cup of Testosterone Relief Tea twice a day for significant symptom improvement! 

Do daily, gentle, slow-weighted workouts. 

The right type of exercise can also give your body a big boost if you’re dealing with IBS and PCOS. I recommend gentle, slow-weighted workouts. These don’t just help you work out the muscles and improve insulin sensitivity—they calm the body for better gut-brain communication. You can find workout routines on The Cysterhood app that are great for IBS and PCOS. 

Prioritize good quality sleep. 

Poor quality sleep can have a domino effect on almost every part of the body, including the metabolic, adrenal, and digestive system. Prioritize getting the best 7-10 hours of good quality sleep possible. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to get better sleep with PCOS and IBS. 

Incorporate stress management techniques. 

We’ll say it one more time: stress is BAD for gut-brain communication! So, work on incorporating stress management techniques into your daily routine. Things like mediation, walking, deep breathing, acupuncture, creative expression, aromatherapy, and mindful eating are all great places to start. 

PCOS and IBS are connected and can be managed naturally—together!

Getting to know how PCOS and IBS are connected is the first step to symptom relief. When you tackle things like inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and insulin resistance with natural lifestyle tweaks, you can ease and even reverse your conditions. Managing both doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it’s totally doable. And, when you join The Cysterhood, you’ve got everything you need to make it happen!