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Gut-Brain-Ovary Axis

Meaning

The Gut-Brain-Ovary Axis represents a complex, bidirectional communication network that functionally links the gastrointestinal tract and its resident microbiota, the central nervous system, and the female reproductive endocrine system. This axis facilitates continuous cross-talk between these distant sites, influencing ovarian steroidogenesis, neuroendocrine regulation of the menstrual cycle, and the gut’s metabolic and immune functions. Perturbations in the gut microbiome, often termed dysbiosis, can transmit signals through the nervous and circulatory systems, potentially disrupting hormonal balance and contributing to conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Clinical interventions targeting one component, such as the gut microbiota, can therefore have systemic effects on hormonal and neurological well-being.