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:
Tune in and let's change the way we talk about menopause and vaginal health!
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Are you in perimenopause or postmenopause and struggling with symptoms—but not getting the support you deserve?
At Midlife Solutions, we specialize in hormone optimization for women in midlife. Our all-female clinical team offers telehealth care across all 50 U.S. states, with the ability to prescribe bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid medication.
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Find out what's really driving your symptoms and what your next best steps are.
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Your host:
Karen Martel
Certified Hormone Specialist, Transformational Nutrition Coach, & Weight Loss Expert