The Perimenopause Gutsy Talk podcast

Perimenopause gut health: why your symptoms improve, then flare again

Christel Lyell- Gut Health Dietitian Episode 17

Have you noticed that your gut symptoms improve for a while… only to flare again out of nowhere?

You’re not imagining it — and it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

In this episode, I explain a very common pattern I see in women in perimenopause:  

- gut symptoms that settle temporarily after food changes or “being careful”, then return again weeks or even days later.

We’ll talk about why this happens, why short-term relief can be misleading, and why “feeling better” doesn’t always mean your gut has become more resilient.

This episode isn’t about quick fixes or food rules.
 It’s about understanding what’s really going on — so you can stop blaming yourself and start thinking differently about gut health in midlife.


In this episode, we cover:

  • Why gut symptoms often improve… then flare again in perimenopause
  • The common flare → fix → calm → flare cycle
  • Why food restriction and simplification can help temporarily — but don’t last
  • The difference between relief and stability
  • Why perimenopause makes the gut more reactive
  • The hidden mental load of constantly managing symptoms
  • What “stability” actually looks like (and why it isn’t perfection)

Mentioned in this episode

I also briefly mention the Gut Reset — a calm, structured approach I’ve created to help women move out of this repeated cycle of flares and firefighting.

It’s not a strict diet, and it’s not about eliminating symptoms forever.
It’s designed for women who recognise this pattern and want a steadier way forward.

You can join the waitlist here:
 👉 christellyelldietitian.com/gutreset

Joining the waitlist doesn’t commit you to buying anything — it just means you’ll be the first to hear when it opens, with early access at a reduced price.


If this episode resonated
If this episode felt like it was describing your experience, you’re not alone.  This pattern is incredibly common in perimenopause — and understanding it is often the first step towards real change.

🎧 Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll go deeper into the mental load of managing a sensitive gut in midlife.