Ep. 653 Estrogen, Progesterone, and Gut Health with Dr. Kumkum Patel | Gut Health, Constipation, Estrogen, Progesterone

Today, I’m honored to speak with Dr. Kumkum Patel, a double board-certified gastroenterologist and neurogastroenterologist who specializes in the gut-brain-pelvic floor connection. In our conversation, we talk about IBS and stress in midlife, exploring the impact of the enteric nervous system, key risk factors for colorectal cancer, and how stress affects women differently in perimenopause and menopause. We discuss the influence of proton pump inhibitors, bile acid diarrhea after gallbladder removal, how women’s microbiome changes through the menopausal transition, and clues that indicate the estrobulome is optimized. Dr. Patel explains visceral hypersensitivity, the influence of motility, pelvic floor dysfunction, constipation, and why constipation should not be normalized. She also explains how she addresses tears, hemorrhoids, and fissures; what to do when standard approaches stop working; nutritional interventions; and how she uses microbiome testing. Stay tuned for today’s insightful conversation with Dr. Kumkum Patel about IBS, the gut-brain axis, and the menopausal transition. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN: How stress affects the gut-brain axis The red flags that help Dr. Patel distinguish IBS from colorectal cancer or other conditions, and why midlife bowel changes should be evaluated How long-term PPI use can create additional problems, and how automatic refills contribute to prolonged use How bile acid diarrhea can occur after gallbladder removal, and other causes that may explain persistent diarrhea Symptoms that could indicate that a woman’s gut microbiome and estrobolome may not be functioning optimally How gastrointestinal and pelvic symptoms change during the menstrual cycle as women approach menopause How pelvic-floor dysfunction contributes to constipation Lifestyle changes that can help manage hemorrhoids and fissures and reduce further irritation How people who can eat most foods can improve their diet before adding supplements Where microbiome testing fits into Dr. Patel’s practice and why she uses it cautiously Bio: Dr. Kumkum Sarkar Patel is a double-board-certified gastroenterologist practicing in Orange County, California. She specializes in irritable bowel syndrome, swallowing disorders, pelvic floor disorders, and women's GI health. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned a Master's degree in Public Health from Dartmouth Medical School at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, and her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency at NYU Winthrop Hospital and then did a Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Patel completed specialized training in GI motility disorders at Washington University in St. Louis through the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. Dr. Patel moved to Southern California with her husband and two young sons in July 2020. Dr. Patel currently serves as a healthcare consultant and speaker for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. She also serves on the American College of Gastroenterology's Women in GI Committee to promote advancement for women in GI. Additionally, she is a passionate motivational speaker who has spoken nationally about women's health, work-life balance, postpartum depression, and gut health related to stress and mental health. In September 2022, Dr. Patel hosted the Equity and Levity Summit in Orange County, California, the first-of-its-kind women's empowerment conference. She was named the 2023 Healthcare Innovator of the Year by the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and named a 40 Under 40 Top Leader in Irvine in 2024. She has been featured on KTLA5 News, CBS8, NBC California Live, as well as in print in Good Housekeeping, Popsugar Wellness, Authority magazine, and VoyageLA magazine for her expertise in gut health, IBS, and lifestyle tips. In 2024, Dr. Patel opened her own concierge solo private gastroenterology and wellness practice with 3 offices in Orange County and telehealth available nationwide. She aims to help each patient take charge of their gut and overall health through an integrative mind-body approach. She works closely with pelvic floor physical therapists, dietitians, surgeons, and other practitioners to provide comprehensive GI care. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website. Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Join other like-minded women in a supportive, nurturing community: The Midlife Pause/Cynthia Thurlow. Purchase Cynthia’s book, The Menopause Gut. Cynthia’s Intermittent Fasting Transformation Book The Midlife Pause Supplement Line Connect with Dr. Kumkum Patel On her website Instagram