“We can't treat clearly when we don't know what community of bugs are there.” - Wendy Strgar
For some women, vaginal infections are something to deal with once in a while and move on. But for others, it's a completely different experience. They keep getting the same symptoms, going back to the doctor, trying another round of antibiotics or antifungals, and hoping this time it will work. Sometimes this goes on for years. And one of the challenges is that we don't always have a clear picture of what's happening in the vaginal microbiome. Different infections can cause very similar symptoms, and the standard tests don’t always include all the organisms that could be causing the problem.
As women's health practitioners, we have to think about what happens after we've treated an infection. Antibiotics can change the whole vaginal microbiome, including the beneficial bacteria that help protect against future infections. How do we help to restore that healthy environment? And what about women whose vaginal health has changed because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause, or cancer treatment? These changes can affect everything from daily comfort to intimacy and quality of life, yet they're still often overlooked. We have an opportunity to provide more individualized care that supports the health of vaginal tissues and the microbiome over time.
In today's episode, I'm joined by my longtime friend and colleague Wendy Strgar, founder of Good Clean Love and Good Clean Clinical Care. Wendy shares how her own experience with vaginal pain led her into women's sexual health research and product development. We talk about the limitations of conventional vaginal testing, the role of Lactobacillus and vaginal pH, why recurrent infections need a more comprehensive approach, how biomimicry can help support a healthier vaginal environment, vaginal health during menopause and cancer treatment, the importance of rebuilding the microbiome after treatment, how better access to care can help women with chronic vaginal infections, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!
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Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/the-vaginal-microbiome-and-chronic-vaginal-infections-with-wendy-strgar/.
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