83: 83. Part 1: Menopause vagina stuff with Dr. Burt Webb

Dr. Burt Webb is an Arizona-based ob-gyn and intimate wellness specialist with a holistic approach to women’s health. (He also represents the non-invasive soundwave treatment Cliovana, which we discuss in part 2 of this podcast.)

He joins the Hotflash inc podcast to talk about how our entire body plays a role in our vaginal health – and genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). With almost 30 years in practice treating women, he is one of the most switched-on mainstream practitioners to appear on the podcast.

Contrary to the prevailing narrative – oh how we love that here – he believes a dry vagina isn’t always just a dry vagina due to menopause. And he explains all the different factors that may be going into this.

This is a fascinating conversation and the first-ever two-part episode. Stay tuned to next week when he gets into all the different treatments, hormone therapy and otherwise – that he uses to treat the entire pelvic region. This is very different to what you are hearing elsewhere.

Highlights:

The role of blood flow and nutrients in menopause – and in particular, vagina stuff
How and why the vagina gets lubricated (hint: it’s like a cheesecloth)
How your gut microbiome impacts you mind, body and vagina
The role of food insensitivities – and chemicals in processed food – in GSM
Why a probiotic isn’t enough
Vaginal hormone therapy in treating GSM
Why you need pharmaceutical-grade supplements (it’s about the absorption)
Why he looks at the tissues – and the four areas where symptoms of dryness and pain in the vagina appear
How inflammation contributes to poor sexual health and ultimately heart disease
Vaginal estrogen and breast cancer – the consensus opinion
Why he believes most vaginal estrogen is not used correctly – and how it should be