Endometriosis and Leaky Gut Syndrome

Recent research seems to suggest that endometriosis may play a role in leaky gut syndrome


endometriosis and leaky gut

It appears Leaky Gut is very common among women with endometriosis and can cause symptoms that may be confused as symptoms of endometriosis or even Irritable Bowel.

Dr. Shanti Mohling, a minimally-invasive gynaecological surgeon, and researcher at the University of Tennessee, whose research is funded by Endometriosis Foundation, has noticed a correlation between intestinal permeability, commonly known as leaky gut and the presence of endometriosis.

Leaky gut, or "intestinal permeability,” is a condition in which the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to "leak" through the intestines and flood the blood stream.

The lining of your intestines is only one cell thick and these intestinal cells form the barrier, known as the gut barrier that separates you from the outside world. This gut barrier contains ‘gates’ that open and close to let nutrients get through. These ‘gates’ are actually tight junctions between each of the cells of your gut lining.

When the gut barrier is compromised, it results in a condition called ‘intestinal hyperpermeability’, also known as ‘leaky gut’.

Certain foods can trigger leaky gut, especially gluten, dairy and soy as they can be seen as foreign invaders by the body.  Leaky gut can also be caused by certain medication including anti-biotics, steroids and OTC pain medications like aspirin which can irritate the gut lining.

Leaky Gut graphic

Symptoms of Leaky gut

Some of the signs of leaky gut include having digestive issues of gas, diarrhoea, bloating or other digestive issues.  Suffering severe fatigue or muscle pain can also be an additional clue.  You may also suffer from food allergies which can trigger a worsening of symptoms.

Other symptoms can include headaches, excessive fatigue, joint pain, bowel issues, anxiety, sugar and carb cravings, nutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalances.


A healthy gut microbiome helps regulate and excrete excess estrogen. When the gut is compromised, estrogen can be reabsorbed into circulation, further feeding endometriosis growth


How common is Leaky Gut with Endometriosis

Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability) is highly common with endometriosis, with studies indicating that up to 45% of patients with the condition may experience impaired intestinal permeability.

Testing for Leaky Gut

If you are looking to get tested for Leaky Gut, ask your practitioner for an intestinal permeability test, also known as the lactulose–mannitol challenge. This test measures how quickly the sugars lactulose and mannitol cross the lining of the gut.  However, I feel it is not really necessary to undertake testing, especially as so many women with endometriosis suffer many gut issues. So, if you follow some basic guidelines to manage your gut health, then you will also be able to address any Leaky Gut problems.  Additionally, if your doctor is unwilling to do testing and you are looking to get private tests, these can be very expensive. 

Endometriosis drives chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, while a leaky gut allows bacterial toxins into the bloodstream, fuelling the systemic inflammation and estrogen dominance that cause endometriosis lesions to grow. – National Institute for Health


Treating Leaky Gut

The key to healing leaky gut is to change your diet and eliminate foods that the body may treat as toxic.  Ensure you do not eat any gluten as this can aggravate the problem and can damage the gut lining.  Also cut right back on sugar, which you should be doing anyway.

The list of foods advised to omit for leaky gut are also foods you should not be eating with endometriosis which includes:

  • Wheat
  • Gluten
  • Junk foods
  • Dairy products
  • Refined oils
  • Baked items like cakes, cookie and pastries
  • Soy, dressings and sauces


Adding healthy fats can help to heal a leaky gut such as oily fish, coconut oil and olive oil.  Certain supplement that are helpful are collagen, N-acetyl Glucosamine (NAC) as well as taking probiotics to restore healthy gut bacteria.

Collagen for Leaky gut

Supplementing with collagen can help leaky gut as it repairs the gut lining. You can supplement using collagen powder, and there are various products available on the market, but ensure you buy a reputable product.  The best type of collagen for gut health is a multi-blend contain collagen types 1, 2 and 3 to obtain maximum benefits.  Collagen is sourced from beef and chicken as well as fish, and personally I prefer fish sourced collagen. Collagen usually comes in powder form and can easily be mixed into your food or added to smoothies.

You can also obtain collagen from bone broth, however, sometimes it can prove too much trouble to be making up bone broth soup on a regular basis, so using collagen powder is an easier way to obtain collagen.

Colostrum for Leaky Gut

The supplement of colostrum has gained a good reputation to help heal the gut.  The growth factors in colostrum play a key role in correcting intestinal permeability. By stimulating cell growth, they strengthen the lining and improve the integrity of the gut.

Colostrum is extremely rich in antibodies that offer protection against disease-causing microorganisms, including those in the gut. Colostrum contains peptides that can regulate the immune-system. This is an important part of correcting leaky gut. When the immune system is working properly then inflammation can be controlled and the gut lining can heal.

Colostrum is found as a powder supplement as well as capsules and is readily available.  However, if you are lactose intolerant then you need to avoid most colostrum products as it is obviously sourced from bovine milk.  Fortunately, there is a specific colostrum formula, Colostrum-LD which is a lactose-reduced formula; lactase enzyme is added during processing to breakdown lactose making Colostrum-LD suitable for lactose-sensitive diets.

Probiotics and Supplements

Targeted probiotics and gut-healing supplements (such as L-glutamine or Omega-3s) are often used to restore beneficial bacteria and support the intestinal lining. Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer benefits when administered in adequate amounts by promoting a healthy gut microbiota. In turn this helps to heal a leaky gut. In a research study the findings suggest that probiotics, particularly L. acidophilus, might have potential therapeutic benefits for endometriosis.

Additional gut healing supplements

Other gut healing supplements to consider, which support gut healing, help reduce inflammation and hormone balance include L-Glutamine, Zinc Carnosine, Aloe Vera, Omega-3’s, Quercetin, NAC, Vitamin D3, Magnesium, Vitex, and Inositol (Inositol is very beneficial for PCOS).


For those living with endometriosis, leaky gut can be particularly damaging, as a healthy gut microbiome helps to regulate estrogen levels.


As we know, excess estrogen, which is often stored in our fat cells rather than being excreted, can fuel endometriosis. The stress that leaky gut puts on the body can further cause inflammation, while chronic inflammation and leaky gut can compromise the immune system. Aiming to address Leaky Gut with diet changes, gut healing supplements and reducing stress will help to restore both your gut health and your immune system.


https://www.restoreendo.com/endo-blog/understanding-inflammation-leaky-gut-and-endometriosis

https://drseckin.com/leaky-gut-syndrome-and-endometriosis/

https://endoexcellencecenter.com/discover-the-link-between-endometriosis-and-gut-health/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9562115/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10747908/


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About the Author

Hi, I am Carolyn Levett, the Founder here at endo-resolved - I am an Integrative Health Coach having studied nutrition, naturopathy and aromatherapy as well as being a published author of three endometriosis books. I used to suffer from severe endometriosis and was fortunate to be able to regained my health and recover from this disease with the support of nutrition, natural therapies and lots of determination.

My motivation is to help other women with endometriosis to heal their bodies so they may start to overcome this awful disease without having to totally rely on toxic drugs and surgeries which can cause further damage  -  with healing thoughts, Carolyn.