Season 1 Finale | The Women Who Changed Reproductive Health Behind every major breakthrough in reproductive health, there’s a woman often uncredited, overlooked, or deliberately erased. In this powerful season finale, I spotlight the forgotten pioneers, modern-day innovators, and brilliant women of color who’ve shaped our understanding of the female body against all odds.You’ll hear about:-The physician who disproved sexist myths about menstruation in the 1800s-The Puerto Rican doctor who fought back against forced sterilizations-The engineer using organ-on-a-chip tech to uncover the science of endometriosis-And the Black women today challenging systemic bias in reproductive careThis episode is a tribute to the women who demanded better for themselves, and for all of us. Because when women are shut out of research, the whole world loses. But when we reclaim our stories, we change the future of medicine.

In this episode, I’m diving into the feminine hygiene aisle to break down what these products are really doing to our bodies. From Summer’s Eve washes, deodorant sprays, and wipes to Vagisil anti-itch creams, powders, and even bloating relief pills, I’m sharing the hard truth about what’s marketed to us as “feminine care.” These products often use phrases like “pH balanced,” “gynecologist tested,” or “odor-blocking,” but behind the pretty packaging and clinical buzzwords is a whole lot of misinformation, microbiome disruption, and unnecessary shame.We’ve been told that we need to wash, wipe, spray, and powder ourselves into being “fresh,” but in reality, a lot of these products are harming the very balance they claim to protect. I talk about why douches are dangerous, how fragrances and preservatives can trigger irritation and infections, what “Lactobacillus ferment” actually is in your feminine wash, and why bloating during PMS might have nothing to do with water weight at all.If you’ve ever stood in the feminine care aisle confused, curious, or convinced something was wrong with your body, this series is for you. I’m here to unpack the science, the marketing, and the root causes so you can make informed choices and actually support your reproductive health without falling for the same tired industry myths.Subscribe to follow along as I take you through the feminine hygiene aisles of different stores, episode by episode, and shine a light on what’s really worth using and what needs to go.

📚 Cited Studies & Data SourcesMaternal Mortality Rates-Black women are 3–4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.Source: CDC Reproductive Health Report, 2020Hypertension and Heart Disease-Black women have the highest rates of high blood pressure among all groups in the U.S.Source: American Heart Association (Go Red for Women, 2018)Pain Bias in Medicine-Half of white medical trainees held false beliefs that Black patients feel less pain.Source: Hoffman KM et al. PNAS, 2016. PMID: 27044069Underdiagnosis in Endometriosis-Black women with endometriosis face delays in diagnosis and more advanced disease at diagnosis.Source: Bougie O et al., Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am, 2022. PMID: 35514542Fibroids Prevalence and Severity-Black women are 2–3 times more likely to develop fibroids and experience more severe symptoms.Source: Baird DD et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2013. PMID: 12548202BV and Recurrent Infections-Black women have significantly higher rates of BV and are less likely to receive targeted treatment.Source: Donald J. Alcendor. Evaluation of health disparity in bacterial vaginosis and the implications for HIV-1 acquisition in African American women. Am J Reprod Immunol 2016; 76: 99–107.Clinical Research Representation-Black women are significantly underrepresented in reproductive health studies.Source: Clark LT et al., J Natl Med Assoc, 2022. PMID: 30545650🖤 Organizations to Support & FollowBlack Mamas Matter AllianceWebsite: https://blackmamasmatter.org Leading voice in advocating for Black maternal health and birth justice.SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice CollectiveWebsite: https://www.sistersong.netNational organization focused on reproductive justice through a human rights lens.The Afiya Center (Texas-based)Website: https://www.theafiyacenter.orgAdvocacy and direct support for Black women and girls impacted by reproductive oppression.National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC)Website: https://birthequity.orgWorks to optimize Black maternal and infant health outcomes.Black Women’s Health ImperativeWebsite: https://bwhi.orgThe first nonprofit created by Black women to help protect and advance the health of Black women and girls.Action Steps for Listeners✅ If you’re a Black woman:-Track your symptoms and bring written notes to every appointment.-Ask about microbiome, hormonal, and inflammatory root causes—not just quick fixes.-Consider working with a culturally competent doula, midwife, or pelvic health therapist.-Advocate for second (or third) opinions, you are not being “extra.”Check out Black-led wellness and advocacy communities (like @thevaginachronicles, @blackmamasmatter, or @balancedblackgirl).If you’re not a Black woman:-Amplify Black voices in healthcare conversations.-Donate to or volunteer with Black-led orgs.-Challenge bias when you see it whether it’s in conversation, a waiting room, or at a policy table.-Educate yourself on historical and current injustices and take that awareness offline into action.For Everyone:-Demand better research representation in clinical trials.-Support Black-founded wellness and health brands.-Call out medical misogyny and racism when you see it.-Share this episode because real change starts with real conversations.

You’ve heard of STDs. Then we started saying STIs. But what about BV? UTIs? Yeast? Are they even sexually transmitted? In this episode, we break down exactly what makes an infection sexually transmitted vs. something your body develops on its own plus why the cervix is the real target for most STIs, not the vagina.

Most people have no idea what Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma even are, let alone how they’re connected to persistent BV, chronic UTIs, infertility, and pelvic pain.Here’s the truth:🦠 These bacteria don’t have a cell wall which means most antibiotics don’t work.⚠️ They’re commensal, opportunistic and sexually transmitted.🧬 They form biofilms that make them nearly impossible to kill without the right approach.💊 And no, boric acid alone won’t cut it.In this episode, I’m breaking down how these stealth infections operate, how they tie into BV, why they’re often ignored, and what a real root-cause approach to treatment looks like including biofilm disruption, antibiotics, and rebalancing the vaginal microbiome.If you’ve ever been told “everything looks normal” while your body’s clearly telling you otherwise... this one’s for you.👉 Hit play, share it with your OB, and save it for your next “your labs are fine” moment.

Everyone’s talking about bikini bodies... I’m talking about vaginal and urinary microbiomes.

Picture this: You’re on Love Island. You’re sweating 24/7, doing messy challenges, practically living in a thong bikini, sitting in chlorine, and sleeping in wet swimsuits. Sounds like paradise... until you think about your vaginal health.

This week’s episode is your real summer survival guide, not the gimmicky “just drink cranberry juice” stuff. I’m breaking down exactly how I’d protect my body if I were on a tropical beach for a month, surrounded by bacteria, chlorine, and pH disruptors.

From UTI prevention strategies to BV defense and yeast infection flare management, I’m sharing what actually works, backed by science, not wellness fluff.We talk probiotics (like With Clarity), D-Mannose, Uva Ursi, gut healing, topical lactic acid gels, stress regulation, and even why cotton shorts matter more than you think.

If you’ve ever had a vacation ruined by a UTI or yeast infection... this one's for you. Tune in for the unfiltered truth about summer vaginal health because hot girls have healthy vaginas!

From anti–Pap smear rhetoric to AI apps creating fake doctors, the misinformation online is getting weird and it’s time we talk about it. In this episode, we break down viral TikToks and trending topics that are spreading false or misleading health claims. Some of it may be unintentional, but that’s exactly why these conversations are so important. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow our podcast! Your support helps us keep these critical conversations going.

Let’s play “ask me anything” — vaginal health edition 💅🏽I’m answering questions from you! We will chat about:✦ Can sugar cause yeast infections?✦ Why do I get BV after sex?✦ Should I take probiotics with antibiotics?✦ Can my partner be giving it to me?✦ Is boric acid safe to use long term?✦ Do probiotics actually reach the vagina?✦ And sooo much more.Because getting recurring infections doesn’t mean you’re dirty.It means your microbiome needs help, and no, your doctor probably didn’t explain this part.Drop your questions below and I’ll keep answering 💊🦠#VaginalHealthQandA #WomensHealth #YeastInfectionHelp #BVRelief #ProbioticTalk #WithMerakiCo

For years I thought my hormones were “normal” because I had regular periods. But my labs told a different story: elevated testosterone, low estrogen, and low cortisol… and yet, no formal diagnosis, just frustration.I finally stopped waiting for someone to tell me what to do and started building a hormone-supportive routine based on what my body was actually asking for.🌿 A morning adrenal mocktail with myo-inositol, salt, and lemon🍳 A blood sugar-stabilizing breakfast with healthy fats, protein, and flax seeds💊 Targeted supplements to boost estrogen and calm androgens🌙 A bedtime probiotic that helps regulate my stress response and keep my microbiome balancedThis is what it looks like to work with your body, not against it.Hormone healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. But when you know what your labs mean, and what each food and supplement actually does, you can stop guessing and start aligning.Curious what I’m taking and why? I’ll break it down for you in this video!#HormoneHealth #CycleSyncing #WomensHealth #AdrenalSupport #PCOSAwareness #RootCauseHealing

Let’s talk about the viral vaginal health trends taking over TikTok from vabbing to koochie juice, perineum sunning, Yoni pearls, and even garlic down there (yes, really). I’m reacting in real-time, so you’ll hear exactly what’s fact, what’s fiction, and what’s flat-out dangerous. This episode is spicy, unfiltered, and backed by real evidence.⁠Let’s cut through the noise and get to the truth about your vaginal health.⁠#vaginalhealth #vabbing #yonipearls #womenshealth #TikToktrends #reproductivehealth #wellnesstrends #mythbusting