Vaginal dryness, recurrent infections, low libido...why are we told this is “just hormones” and something we have to tolerate? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, founder of the International Pause Institute, and we unpack what’s really happening down there during perimenopause and menopause. Could your symptoms be tied to your gut? Your brain? Your stress levels?

We dive deep into the vaginal microbiome and why so many women struggle with yeast infections, UTIs, and painful sex—sometimes for years. Is estrogen the whole answer? Why do probiotics sometimes fail? And how could your libido be connected to bacteria and the vagus nerve?

We also explore cutting-edge regenerative therapies—from red light wands to lasers to exosomes—and have an honest conversation about stress, sex, and why self-care isn’t optional if you want your hormones to work. If more than half of menopausal women experience urogenital symptoms, why aren’t we talking about this sooner? And what can you start doing now to protect your future self?

In this episode, we uncover:

• How the gut and vaginal microbiome influence each other.
• Why estrogen loss changes vaginal pH and bacterial balance.
• What really causes recurrent UTIs and yeast infections.
• How stress can shut down libido and hormone function.
• What regenerative therapies can rebuild vaginal tissue naturally.

Tune in and let’s change the way we talk about menopause and vaginal health!

Download in iTunes or on your favorite podcast platforms.