676. Painful Sex, Vaginal Shrinking and Incontinence: The Importance of Your Vagina Health with Dr. Anna Cabeca

What if vaginal dryness, painful sex, a disappearing libido, and urinary changes aren’t just “part of getting older”? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Dr. Anna Cabeca, The Girlfriend Doctor, a triple board-certified OB/GYN and best-selling author of The Hormone Fix, to unpack the symptoms so many women quietly live with through perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Anna explains the vaginal microbiome (yes, your vagina has its own balance of good and bad bacteria), how it connects to your bladder health, and why doing nothing about these symptoms isn’t the safe, neutral choice it seems.

We also get into the difference between local, topical hormone support and systemic hormone therapy, and why you may still have vaginal symptoms even if you’re already on BHRT. Dr. Anna shares how topical DHEA may support vaginal and urethral tissue, why she’s cautious about high-dose hormone pellets, and the everyday products and habits that can disrupt your vaginal health without you realizing it.

What you’ll learn:

• Why vaginal dryness, painful sex, and incontinence aren’t symptoms you just have to accept
• What the vaginal microbiome is and why it needs different bacteria than your gut
• How your bladder’s microbiome, the urobiome, may play a role in urgency and leaking
• Why an off-the-shelf probiotic isn’t the same as a vaginal and bladder-targeted one
• What everyday products and habits can quietly disrupt your vaginal health
• How topical DHEA may support vaginal, vulvar, and urethral tissue without raising blood levels
• Why you may still need local support even if you’re already on BHRT
• What Dr. Anna sees with high-dose hormone pellets, and why she’s cautious about them

Tune in to learn how to support your vaginal and bladder health so comfort and intimacy don’t have to become a thing of the past.

And check out my previous interview with Dr. Anna where we discussed libido, testing, and hormones: https://dramie.com/podcasts/399-libido-testing-hormones/

Listeners of The Thyroid (and Hormone) Fixer Podcast can get 20% off Dr. Anna’s products with code DRAMIE at checkout. Look for the Viva V collection under Bundles at https://drannacabeca.com

Connect with Dr. Anna:

Website: https://drannacabeca.com

Podcast: https://drannacabeca.com/blogs/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thegirlfrienddoctor

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Disclaimer: Information provided on The Thyroid Fixer podcast is for informational purposes only. This information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, or any information contained on or in any product. Do not use the information provided in this podcast for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or other supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem.