Bloating with abdominal distention can occur during menopause. As we age small pockets of tissue may balloon from the bowel causing a condition called diverticula. Food gets lodged in these diverticula, becomes stale and produces large amounts of gas causing the abdomen to distend.

The female hormones also affect the speed of movement of the food in the intestines. Progesterone reduces movement so bowel motions become infrequent, dry and pebble-like, while estrogen speeds them up. Due to lack of estrogen after menopause constipation is also a common symptom.