In today's episode, we delve into the important topic of vaginal health and genitourinary symptoms, especially as we age and experience changes in our hormone levels.
If you're experiencing symptoms like burning, pain, irritation, itching, bladder urgency or leaking, recurrent UTIs, painful sex, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, increased yeast infections, or other vaginal discomfort, this episode is a must-listen!
Here are 3 key takeaways from the episode:
1️⃣ Vaginal Microbiome:
The vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus species, which keeps the pH optimal at about 4 to 4.5. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining this bacterial balance and acidic pH, so as estrogen levels decrease with age, the vaginal ecosystem can change, leading to various symptoms.
2️⃣ Assessing Vaginal Health:
Monitoring vaginal pH is an essential way to assess vaginal health. Optimal pH ranges from 3.5 to 4.5, and pH test strips can be purchased to monitor it. Additionally, vaginal cultures can provide insights into the microbiome composition and guide personalized treatment plans.
3️⃣ Hormone Therapy:
If hormonal imbalances are contributing to vaginal health issues, hormone therapy may be necessary. Estrogen replacement, either systemically or topically, can help maintain vaginal lining thickness, moisture, and elasticity. DHEA, a hormone specifically beneficial for the vagina, can also support vaginal lubrication and reduce symptoms of vaginal atrophy.
If you or someone you know is experiencing vaginal health symptoms, don't miss this informative episode. Remember to share it with anyone who can benefit from understanding their hormonal health and finding solutions for vaginal well-being.
Mentioned in this episode:
MegaSporeBiotic – Click HERE to grab this probiotic and use my practitioner code, which also gets you 10% off: TaraMegaSpore
** BLACK FRIDAY SALE **
Check out my Black Friday Hormone Balance Solution Quick Start packages here.
Hi, I'm Tara Thorne, FDN-P, RHN, FNC, CMRCP. Basically? I’m a women's health and hormone expert. After serving thousands of women in my 10+ years of clinical experience, I bring you The Hormone Balance Solution podcast – a podcast aimed to educate and empower midlife women.
Midlife can be a confronting time but it doesn’t have to be a bumpy ride. No matter where you’re at, or where you’ve come from we can get you feeling better in midlife than you have in years – plus set yourself up for healthier decades to come.
I’ll be bringing you weekly doses of inspiration, education and conversations with amazing people to give you real, actionable strategies for supporting your health now and in the future.
So tune in, make sure you’re subscribed, leave a review, and get ready to learn important health information that isn’t readily available …. everything you need to know and nothing you don't.
Subscribe to The Hormone Balance Solution podcast on any of the following podcast platforms!
APPLE PODCASTS
SPOTIFY
STITCHER
GOOGLE PODCASTS
RSS FEED
Leave a Review:
Reviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here's how.