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The Role Your Vaginal Flora Plays in a Healthy Microbiome | Dr. Caroline Mitchell
Manage episode 405986230 series 2921551
Learn how your vaginal flora and gut microbiome contribute to your reproductive health. Dr. Caroline Mitchell shares her expertise and research on this important but overlooked topic.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. Dr. Caroline Mitchell, distinguished reproductive health researcher and faculty member at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, shares her profound insight on why a healthy vaginal microbiome is crucial in women's health.
With a background in Women’s Studies at Harvard College and groundbreaking research funded by prestigious organizations, Dr. Mitchell brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion. She explains the complexities of understanding vaginal flora, the challenges posed by bacterial vaginosis (BV), and the intriguing connections between gut health and vaginal health.
Listen to learn about some of the most significant yet overlooked aspects of women's reproductive health. We discuss how to balance the vaginal microbiome, what to do about chronic bacterial vaginosis, use cases for a vaginal microbiome transplant, and what innovative treatments are emerging in women’s health.
Key Discussion Points
- Why a healthy vaginal microbiome is crucial for women's overall health and how imbalances can lead to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
- The difficulties of limited funding and the complexity of research regarding the vaginal microbiome.
- Symptoms of BV, its limited treatment options, and common misdiagnoses such as vulvodynia.
- Yeast infection vs. BV vs. UTI symptoms.
- The impact of antibiotic use on the vaginal and gut microbiomes, plus the need for caution and further research.
- Vaginal microbiome transplants and the potential of lactobacillus crispatus in treating BV, plus the future of an at-home vaginal microbiome test.
- What to consider when looking for the best women's probiotics for vaginal health, and how to avoid unnecessary products and irritants.
- The importance of accurate diagnosis, treatment, and management for vaginal health.
"When the good kind of lactobacillus are not dominating the vaginal microbial community, people are at higher risk for preterm birth, HIV acquisition, human papillomavirus—at risk for both acquisition and progression to cervical dysplasia and potentially cancer." - Dr. Caroline Mitchell
Related to this episode:
Resources and episodes on the Gut and Vaginal Microbiome
- Follow Dr. Caroline Mitchell on Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow her lab on Instagram.
- Learn more about Dr Mitchell’s research and consider enrolling in her clinical trials
- MOTIF (be a donor recipient)
- MOTIF (be a donor)
- VIBRANT study, looking at a live biotherapeutic
- Learn about the VITA Study
- Companies working on products include Osel, Freya Biosciences, and BioNTech
- Test kits for women with altered vaginal flora: Evvy
If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support the Fempower Health Podcast. Here's how:
- Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
- Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
- Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
- Engage with Our Community: Follow us on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and engaging content. If you are interested in chronic pelvic pain or perimenopause & menopause, specifically, we've created specific social accounts: Peri/Menopause Instagram, Peri/Menopause Facebook, Peri/Menopause TikTok, Chronic Pelvic Pain Instagram, Chronic Pelvic Pain TikTok
- Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest announcements, news, and research directly in your inbox.
- Reach Out: We love hearing from you! Reach out for inquiries, outreach, or even to share your questions and topics of interest.
Together, let's build a stronger community dedicated to women's health. Your support is crucial in this journey!
Guest Bio
Dr. Caroline Mitchell, a distinguished faculty member at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, has a remarkable career that bridges clinical practice with groundbreaking research. After earning her BA in Women's Studies from Harvard College and serving in the Peace Corps in Southern Africa, she returned to Harvard Medical School for her MD, followed by OB/Gyn residency and an MPH degree at the University of Washington in Seattle. At MGH since 2014, Dr. Mitchell dedicates her research to understanding the vaginal microbiota's role in reproductive health, supported by prestigious grants from organizations like NIH, the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As the Director of the Vulvovaginal Disorders Program and chair of the OB/Gyn Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at MGH, her clinical and research work includes pioneering the first randomized trial of vaginal fluid transplant for recurrent infections and investigating novel vaginal biotherapeutics, underlining her commitment to advancing women's health globally.
**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**
**Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**
161 episodes
Manage episode 405986230 series 2921551
Learn how your vaginal flora and gut microbiome contribute to your reproductive health. Dr. Caroline Mitchell shares her expertise and research on this important but overlooked topic.
Episode Summary
In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. Dr. Caroline Mitchell, distinguished reproductive health researcher and faculty member at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, shares her profound insight on why a healthy vaginal microbiome is crucial in women's health.
With a background in Women’s Studies at Harvard College and groundbreaking research funded by prestigious organizations, Dr. Mitchell brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the discussion. She explains the complexities of understanding vaginal flora, the challenges posed by bacterial vaginosis (BV), and the intriguing connections between gut health and vaginal health.
Listen to learn about some of the most significant yet overlooked aspects of women's reproductive health. We discuss how to balance the vaginal microbiome, what to do about chronic bacterial vaginosis, use cases for a vaginal microbiome transplant, and what innovative treatments are emerging in women’s health.
Key Discussion Points
- Why a healthy vaginal microbiome is crucial for women's overall health and how imbalances can lead to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV).
- The difficulties of limited funding and the complexity of research regarding the vaginal microbiome.
- Symptoms of BV, its limited treatment options, and common misdiagnoses such as vulvodynia.
- Yeast infection vs. BV vs. UTI symptoms.
- The impact of antibiotic use on the vaginal and gut microbiomes, plus the need for caution and further research.
- Vaginal microbiome transplants and the potential of lactobacillus crispatus in treating BV, plus the future of an at-home vaginal microbiome test.
- What to consider when looking for the best women's probiotics for vaginal health, and how to avoid unnecessary products and irritants.
- The importance of accurate diagnosis, treatment, and management for vaginal health.
"When the good kind of lactobacillus are not dominating the vaginal microbial community, people are at higher risk for preterm birth, HIV acquisition, human papillomavirus—at risk for both acquisition and progression to cervical dysplasia and potentially cancer." - Dr. Caroline Mitchell
Related to this episode:
Resources and episodes on the Gut and Vaginal Microbiome
- Follow Dr. Caroline Mitchell on Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow her lab on Instagram.
- Learn more about Dr Mitchell’s research and consider enrolling in her clinical trials
- MOTIF (be a donor recipient)
- MOTIF (be a donor)
- VIBRANT study, looking at a live biotherapeutic
- Learn about the VITA Study
- Companies working on products include Osel, Freya Biosciences, and BioNTech
- Test kits for women with altered vaginal flora: Evvy
If you're passionate about advancing women's health, there are many ways you can support the Fempower Health Podcast. Here's how:
- Subscribe and Listen: Tune in to new episodes every Tuesday by subscribing to the Fempower Health Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your regular listenership is invaluable!
- Leave a Review: Help us grow by leaving a review on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback not only supports us but also helps others discover our podcast.
- Share with Others: Spread the word by sharing episodes with friends, family, or anyone interested in women's health. Every share helps!
- Engage with Our Community: Follow us on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and engaging content. If you are interested in chronic pelvic pain or perimenopause & menopause, specifically, we've created specific social accounts: Peri/Menopause Instagram, Peri/Menopause Facebook, Peri/Menopause TikTok, Chronic Pelvic Pain Instagram, Chronic Pelvic Pain TikTok
- Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest announcements, news, and research directly in your inbox.
- Reach Out: We love hearing from you! Reach out for inquiries, outreach, or even to share your questions and topics of interest.
Together, let's build a stronger community dedicated to women's health. Your support is crucial in this journey!
Guest Bio
Dr. Caroline Mitchell, a distinguished faculty member at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, has a remarkable career that bridges clinical practice with groundbreaking research. After earning her BA in Women's Studies from Harvard College and serving in the Peace Corps in Southern Africa, she returned to Harvard Medical School for her MD, followed by OB/Gyn residency and an MPH degree at the University of Washington in Seattle. At MGH since 2014, Dr. Mitchell dedicates her research to understanding the vaginal microbiota's role in reproductive health, supported by prestigious grants from organizations like NIH, the Doris Duke Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. As the Director of the Vulvovaginal Disorders Program and chair of the OB/Gyn Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at MGH, her clinical and research work includes pioneering the first randomized trial of vaginal fluid transplant for recurrent infections and investigating novel vaginal biotherapeutics, underlining her commitment to advancing women's health globally.
**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.**
**Contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**
161 episodes
All episodes
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