
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS that causes intense mood swings, irritability, fatigue, and other symptoms that can interfere with daily life. But did you know that your gut health plays a big role in how PMDD affects you? If your gut isn’t functioning well, it can make PMDD worse, while a healthy gut can help balance the hormones that trigger the condition.
How Your Gut Affects Your Hormones
Your gut helps regulate and break down hormones like estrogen and progesterone. When your gut is healthy, it can help keep these hormones balanced, which is important for managing PMDD. If your gut isn’t working properly, it can make it harder for your body to keep hormones in check, leading to more severe symptoms.
The Link Between Gut Health and Mood
Did you know around 90% of serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone that helps regulate mood, is produced in your gut. Serotonin plays a huge role in how you feel, so if your gut is healthy, it can help keep your mood more stable and reduce some of the emotional symptoms of PMDD.
Gut Imbalance and PMDD
When the good and bad bacteria in your gut get out of balance (a condition called dysbiosis), it can lead to more inflammation in the body. This inflammation is linked to worsened PMDD symptoms.

The Gut-Brain Connection
Your gut and brain communicate with each other constantly, which is why having a healthy gut is so important for your mental health—especially if you have PMDD. A well-balanced gut helps you absorb key nutrients like B vitamins and omega-3s, both of which are important for regulating your hormones and supporting your mental health. People with PMDD often have low levels of these nutrients, so gut health becomes even more important.
Histamine and PMDD
Another interesting thing to note: certain types of bacteria in your gut can produce histamine, a substance that can raise estrogen levels. Higher estrogen can make PMDD symptoms worse. So, keeping your gut in check to prevent too much histamine from building up is another way to help manage your symptoms.
Why Gut Health is Key for PMDD
In short, taking care of your gut can make a big difference in how PMDD affects you. A healthy gut helps keep hormones balanced, stabilises your mood, and reduces inflammation—all of which can help ease PMDD symptoms. By supporting your gut with a healthy diet, probiotics, and other gut-friendly habits, you may be able to feel better and manage PMDD more effectively.