Why women suffer more often from a bloated abdomen

Women generally have a longer colon than men. This difference can be as much as 10-12 centimetres on average. This often concerns the middle transverse or last part of the colon.

It is not without reason that women have a longer colon. This is likely to do with the possibility of absorbing more fluids during pregnancy.

The disadvantage of a longer colon is that it can twist and form a loop. This can especially occur when stools accumulate and gas accumulates behind the stools. This causes a lot of discomfort and a bloated abdomen.

Women have a rounder and deeper pelvis in comparison to men. This has been determined by evolution so that women can bear children.

Together with an extra long intestine, a deeper pelvis ensures that the colon goes deeper into the pelvis. Here the colon has to share the small space with the other organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and bladder. When problems arise in one of these organs that involves more volume, you can imagine that this can cause misery and complaints, such as constipation and a bloated feeling.

During menstruation, pre-menopause and menopause; fluctuations occur in your hormone levels. These fluctuations can lead to bloating and an increase in hormone levels in various ways:

• Gas formation
• Retention of water and salt by the kidneys
• A decrease in bile production which has a negative effect on your digestion

Your thyroid hormone affects your bowel function and bowel movements. When you have insufficient thyroid hormone, bowel movements slow down. This can lead to constipation and bloating.

A lack of thyroid hormone can occur during pregnancy; your body needs more thyroid hormone. It may also be that you already had an undiagnosed slow thyroid which becomes apparent during pregnancy. Other causes of a slow thyroid gland are:

• Iodine deficiency
• Lack of healthy nutrients
• Stress
• Toxic (hormone-disrupting) substances

Too much estrogen is called estrogen dominance. This occurs during and after menopause, by non-natural estrogen hormone sources such as

• The Pill
• Hormone-disrupting substances
• Being overweight

As there is a lot to talk about regarding this important causal factor, I will tell more about it another time.

Women have less testosterone than men. This hormone ensures that in men the abdominal wall is more muscular and thus provides more support for the colon. This even applies to men with a beer belly; their abdominal wall is often still firm, which you usually don’t see under the amount of fat. Despite the fact that these men grumble about a belly that is too thick, they usually don’t experience a bloated feeling.