Digestive conditions in women
Your stomach and intestines absorb nutrients and hold most of your body's immune tissue, which makes the gut a common target in autoimmune disease.
Conditions that affect your digestive tract 10
Autoimmune and chronic conditions that can involve your digestive tract. Each guide covers early signs, labs to ask about, and when to see a doctor.
Celiac disease
AutoimmuneAn autoimmune reaction to gluten (in wheat, barley, and rye) that damages the lining of the small intestine and blocks nutrient absorption.
Crohn's disease & ulcerative colitis
AutoimmuneImmune-mediated conditions in which the immune system drives chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. They're often grouped with autoimmune diseases.
Digestive issues
ChronicOngoing digestive symptoms such as bloating, pain, reflux, or changes in bowel habits. Many are functional, meaning the gut looks normal but doesn't work smoothly.
Pernicious anemia
AutoimmuneThe immune system attacks cells in the stomach lining that make intrinsic factor, a protein needed to absorb vitamin B12.
Endometriosis
ChronicA chronic, estrogen-driven inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain and sometimes infertility. It isn't classified as autoimmune, but women with endometriosis have higher rates of several autoimmune diseases.
Scleroderma
AutoimmuneThe immune system drives thickening and scarring of the skin, and sometimes internal organs, along with damage to small blood vessels.
Anemia
ChronicHaving too few healthy red blood cells, or too little hemoglobin, to carry enough oxygen through the body. Iron deficiency from heavy periods is the most common cause in women.
Ankylosing spondylitis
AutoimmuneAn immune-mediated arthritis that mainly affects the spine and the joints where the spine meets the pelvis, causing back pain and stiffness that improve with movement.
Skin conditions
ChronicCommon long-term skin conditions that cause breakouts, rashes, redness, or itching. Hormones, immune activity, and the skin barrier all play a role.
Weight management
ChronicBody weight is shaped by genes, hormones, sleep, stress, medicines, and health conditions, not willpower alone. Care here focuses on health and on finding medical causes of weight change, at any body size.
No conditions match. Try another word.
Signs worth getting checked
- Blood in the stool or black stools
- Diarrhea that lasts more than a few weeks
- Unexplained weight loss
- Iron or B12 deficiency without a clear cause
- Symptoms that wake you up at night
Ingredients that affect your digestive tract
Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other supplements commonly used for the digestive tract. Each one links to its full guide.
About your digestive tract
What it does
The gut lining is a one-cell-thick barrier between food, microbes, and your immune system. It absorbs nutrients such as iron, B12, and vitamin D. When it's inflamed or damaged, deficiencies and whole-body symptoms can follow.
Common issues
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Reflux
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Food intolerances such as lactose intolerance
- Constipation
Wondering if your symptoms fit a pattern?
Dr. Lesher is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women's autoimmune and chronic conditions. Since 2020, she has helped more than 900 patients overcome and heal from their conditions.