With changing hormone levels during menopause, bowel problems, like the following, may become more common:
Constipation
Incomplete emptying
Fecal incontinence
Difficulty controlling gas
Hemorrhoids
Pain from anal fissures
Estrogen helps maintain the moisture in your cells and supports collagen production. As estrogen levels begin to fall in perimenopause, your skin may become dry, leading to flaking and itchiness, sometimes affecting more sensitive areas.
Many women experience itchiness, especially as declining hormone levels can trigger increased histamine release. Histamines can cause further skin irritation. Hormonal changes can also cause the veins around the anus to relax, which can make hemorrhoids more likely.