But for many of us, life’s modern stressors, a less-than-stellar diet, and not drinking nearly enough water has made constipation (i.e., going less than once per day) the new “normal.” And that’s a problem for a variety of reasons—and particularly for women. That’s because constipation can royally mess with your hormones, particularly estrogen, and, in turn, lead to a host of other annoying problems like headaches and acne. Additionally imbalances in gut flora can lead to increased production of beta-glucuronidase—an enzyme that essentially reactivates bound estrogen and other hormones by disconnecting them from their methyl group. When this happens, estrogen, which is no longer water-soluble, gets reabsorbed into the bloodstream. “Constipation exacerbates this process since the hormone is sitting in the stool for longer and has a greater chance of being separated from the methyl group,” says Trubow. So, what are some of the more immediate issues you might notice? Acne is a big one. “Poor metabolic waste elimination plus a hormone imbalance can wreak havoc on your skin,” says Brighten. “If you aren’t moving waste out through your bowels, your body can attempt to push some of it out through the skin.” Other health problems caused by the accumulation of estrogen that can crop up pretty quickly include headaches, PMS, frequent periods, heavy periods, and hot flashes. And over time, health risks start to get pretty serious. “Over the long term, there’s potentially an increased risk for estrogen-dependent cancers since the normal excretion process isn’t happening properly,” says Trubow.
