Unlocking the Power of Hormone-Microbiome Interactions: An Interview with Prof. Aurea Simon-Soro

Prof. Aurea Simón-Soro presenting her research at the Cell Symposia: Infection Biology in the Age of the Microbiome.

The Hidden Link Between Hormones, Microbiome, and Systemic Health

The human body is an interconnected ecosystem where hormones and the microbiome constantly communicate, influencing metabolism, immunity, aging, reproductive health, and chronic diseases. The microbiome—spanning the gut, oral cavity, skin, and reproductive tract—plays a critical role in modulating hormonal balance, inflammation, and disease susceptibility. But how do these biological networks interact? More importantly, can we leverage them for precision medicine, early disease detection, and personalized therapies?

Dr. Aurea Simon-Soro, a leading researcher in hormone-microbiome science, is pioneering a new field that explores these intricate connections. Through HORMOBIOME, her groundbreaking research reveals how microbial ecosystems respond to hormonal fluctuations in health and disease, opening doors for next-generation diagnostics and non-invasive treatments.

In this interview, Dr. Simon-Soro shares how the hormone-microbiome interface is shaping our understanding of women’s health, endocrinology, gut dysbiosis, autoimmune diseases, and longevity—and why this emerging field could transform medicine as we know it.

Exploring the Hormonal-Microbiome Interface: An Expert Perspective

What inspired your research on the interplay between hormones and the microbiome, and how did the idea for HORMOBIOME take shape?

I became fascinated by the disproportionate prevalence of autoimmune diseases, infertility, and metabolic disorders in women, particularly concerning hormonal changes. At the same time, I was deeply interested in the human microbiome and its role in modulating immune function, metabolism, and inflammation. I was intrigued by the discovery that gut, oral, and reproductive tract microbiota can metabolize hormones, altering their bioavailability and influencing systemic health.

This realization led to HORMOBIOME, a project that explores how sex steroid hormones (such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol) interact with microbial ecosystems across different body niches. We aim to decode how hormonal fluctuations shape microbial communities, potentially leading to biomarker-driven diagnostics and personalized therapeutic interventions.

Hormonal fluctuations occur at key life stages—puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. How do these transitions influence the microbiome, and what differences do you observe?

Hormonal shifts are a powerful environmental factor shaping microbiota composition. In women, distinct microbial adaptations occur throughout the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, impacting both local and systemic health.

For example:

• During pregnancy, rising progesterone and estrogen levels alter oral, vaginal, and gut microbiota, increasing inflammation risks and microbial dysbiosis.

• In menopause, estrogen depletion leads to a loss of microbial diversity, affecting oral health (xerostomia, periodontitis), gut metabolism, and osteoporosis risk.

• Puberty and adolescence trigger shifts in skin, gut, and oral microbiota, which can influence conditions like acne, immune function, and metabolic changes.

By understanding these patterns, we can develop microbiome-based health strategies to prevent disease and promote hormonal balance through diet, probiotics, and precision medicine.

Could the microbiome serve as an early biomarker for detecting hormonal imbalances?

Absolutely. Advanced multi-omics technologies (metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics) reveal that microbial metabolites, bacterial species, and salivary biomarkers could indicate hormonal imbalances before clinical symptoms appear.

For instance:

• MicroRNA in saliva is showing promise as a biomarker for endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease linked to infertility.

• Oral and gut microbiome profiling could help monitor hormonal shifts in menopause, PCOS, and metabolic disorders.

  
  

As research progresses, these insights will pave the way for non-invasive, microbiome-based precision diagnostics.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is widely used for menopause. How does it affect the microbiome, and can microbiome profiling improve treatment outcomes?

Emerging data suggests that HRT may partially restore microbial profiles, particularly in the oral, vaginal, and gut microbiota, mimicking premenopausal conditions. However, individual responses to HRT vary, where microbiome profiling could be crucial.

Integrating personalized microbiome and hormonal analytics could refine HRT protocols, probiotic interventions, and metabolic monitoring, ensuring optimal treatment outcomes with minimal side effects.

What preventive strategies can individuals adopt to support their microbiome during key hormonal transitions?

To maintain a hormone-microbiome balance, individuals should:✔ Prioritize gut health with a fiber-rich diet supporting short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria.✔ Optimize oral hygiene, as oral dysbiosis may reflect systemic inflammation and hormonal shifts.✔ Maintain hydration, particularly post-menopause, to counteract dry mouth and thinning mucosal barriers.✔ Consume probiotics and prebiotics targeting lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which play a key role in estrogen metabolism.✔ Manage stress, since cortisol elevation impacts gut microbiota composition and immune function.

Public awareness of hormone-microbiome interactions remains limited. What strategies could help educate healthcare professionals and the public?

Raising awareness requires a multifaceted approach, including:

🟢 Public science communication, leveraging social media, podcasts, and community health talks.🟢 Interdisciplinary collaboration, encouraging gynecologists, endocrinologists, and microbiome researchers to share insights.

🟢 Integrating microbiome education into medical and dental school curricula.

🟢 Developing at-home microbiome testing kits for hormonal balance tracking and preventive health strategies.

We can ensure that microbiome research translates into real-world healthcare solutions by bridging the knowledge gap.

The Future of Hormone-Microbiome Science

The HORMOBIOME Lab is pioneering a new frontier in biomedicine, revealing how hormonal signals and microbial ecosystems shape health, longevity, and disease risk. As we unlock these connections, we edge closer to a new era of precision medicine, where non-invasive diagnostics, microbiome-targeted therapies, and personalized interventions become the cornerstone of healthcare.

📌 Understanding your microbiome is not just about digestion but also whole-body wellness. As research advances, hormone-microbiome science will transform how we approach health, from early disease detection to tailored therapeutic strategies.

The future of healthcare is microbiome-driven, hormone-informed, and deeply personal.