Estrogen, progesterone and the gastrointestinal tract

Administration of postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) is incr easing. Both estrogen and progesterone have established effects upon the ga strointestinal tract. Our objective was to review the current literature an d inform the primary care obstetrician-gynecologist of the physiologic and possible therapeutic effects of estrogen and progesterone upon the gastroin testinal tract. We performed a MEDLINE search of the English language liter ature from 1966 through April 2000 utilizing the following keywords: estrog en, progesterone, oral contraceptives, hormonal replacement therapy, esopha gus, stomach, peptic nicer disease, gallbladder, irritable bowel syndrome, colon, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis and arteriovenous malfo rmations. This review provides an abundance of data supporting that estroge n and progesterone have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the esop hagus, stomach, gallbladder, and small and large intestine.