Episodes

  • 84: From PMDD Hell to Heaven on Earth: Heather Hendrie on Periods, Wilderness Therapy, and Awfully Hilarious Healing

    84: From PMDD Hell to Heaven on Earth: Heather Hendrie on Periods, Wilderness Therapy, and Awfully Hilarious Healing
    Apr 30 2026
    PMDD: 30 Years of Misdiagnosis and How to Break the Cycle One in 20 menstruating people lives with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and the average time to diagnosis is still 20 years. For Heather Hendrie, it was 30. Heather is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, wilderness therapist and creator of the Awfully Hilarious anthology series, a collection of books using humour to break stigma around periods, sex and the stories we are most often told to keep quiet. In this episode, Kristen and Heather explore what PMDD actually looks like to live with, why the medical system keeps missing it and how storytelling can do what a clinical handout never could. The conversation also covers the science of walk-and-talk nature therapy and what bilateral movement on trail does to the nervous system. What You Will Learn This episode covers what PMDD is in plain language and why it is consistently misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression or identity issues. Heather shares what those 30 undiagnosed years actually looked like month to month and what finally connected the dots. You will also hear about the origin of the Awfully Hilarious anthology series, what the editorial team discovered about desire, identity and courage through the Pillow Talk submissions and why Heather believes humour is one of the most underused tools in health advocacy. The episode closes with the science of what the research shows about nature and nervous system regulation. Episode Breakdown [00:57] PMDD: what 30 undiagnosed years actually looked and felt like[03:31] Premenstrual dysphoric disorder explained in plain language and why diagnosis takes so long[04:21] The perimenopause times a thousand analogy and why PMDD is getting more attention now[07:52] How a terrible date and a phone call became the Awfully Hilarious book series[10:35] Pillow Talk: 18 writers on sex, desire and intimacy from across five countries[13:00] Why some stories required anonymity and how the editorial team protected writers[21:00] Walk-and-talk wilderness therapy in Whistler BC and why the trail changes what is possible[22:46] The science: bilateral movement, birdsong, attention restoration theory and fractal patterns in nature[31:38] What Heather is reading at The Pleasure Principle conference on May 8, 2026 About Heather Hendrie Heather Hendrie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and wilderness therapist based in Whistler, British Columbia. She holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counselling with a concentration in Transpersonal Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University. She is the founder of True Nature Wilderness Therapy and the creator of the Awfully Hilarious anthology series. Her forthcoming memoir, Where the Eff Is My Red Tent (Caitlin Press), releases September 2026. 🎶 Theme Song: Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle Key Topics Covered Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): symptoms, diagnosis and the 20-year average delayWhy menstruating bodies were systematically understudied by medicineThe Awfully Hilarious anthology series: origin, mission and all four booksPillow Talk: stories about sex, desire and intimacy from writers across five countriesWalk-and-talk wilderness therapy in the Sea to Sky Corridor, BCBilateral movement and brain hemisphere activation on trailBirdsong, fractals and attention restoration theoryThe Pleasure Principle conference May 8, 2026 in Hamilton, Ontario Resources and References Mentioned Awfully Hilarious book series - all four books available here including Pillow Talk, Period Pieces and Stories We Never TellWhere the Eff Is My Red Tent by Heather Hendrie - forthcoming memoir from Caitlin Press, pre-sale available now, September 2026The Cycle: Confronting the Pain of Periods and PMDD by Shalene Gupta - the book Heather references on PMDD history and the fight for DSM inclusion McMaster Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) - the validated 19-question screening tool developed at McMaster University to identify PMS and PMDD. This is the tool Heather references in the episode. Available in hardcopy and electronic format.International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) - free PMDD symptom tracker and diagnosis support resourcesPaRx (Park Prescriptions Canada) - the Canadian program encouraging healthcare providers to prescribe time in natureTrue Nature Wilderness Therapy - Heather's walk-and-talk therapy practice, accepting clients in BC and western provinces Related Episodes Episode 49: Unlocking the Secrets of Your Hormonal Cycle with Laura Federico - PMDD, cycle tracking and menstrual healthEpisode 7: Healing the Gut for Hormone Balance with Stephanie Singh - menstrual cycle and hormonal healthEpisode 16: Move the Body, Heal the Mind with Dr. Jennifer Heisz - the science of movement and mental healthEpisode 29: Moving from Surviving to Thriving in the Perinatal Period with Dr. Arielle Buch-Frohlich - ...
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 83: Pelvic Floor Basics: Why Kegels Are Only Half the Story with Lauren Ohayon

    83: Pelvic Floor Basics: Why Kegels Are Only Half the Story with Lauren Ohayon
    Apr 23 2026
    Pelvic Floor Basics: Why Kegels Are Only Half the Story with Lauren Ohayon If you have been doing your Kegels faithfully and still feel disconnected from your pelvic floor, still leaking, still in pain, or completely unsure what your pelvic floor is actually doing, this episode is what you have been waiting for. Lauren Ohayon is the creator of Restore Your Core, a globally recognized movement method practiced in over 80 countries and recommended by OBGYNs and pelvic floor physical therapists worldwide. Lauren reframes the pelvic floor not as a squeeze-and-tighten muscle but as a reflexive pressure manager that moves with your breath, your spine and every step you take. If you have ever wondered why Kegels alone are not solving the problem, Lauren has your answer. What You Will Learn Lauren explains why the dominant narrative around pelvic floor training leaves so many people stuck and frustrated. She offers a completely different framework rooted in breath, body literacy and reflexive movement that applies whether you are 17 or 70, postpartum or post-menopausal. You will learn practical techniques to feel your pelvic floor without squeezing, understand why pelvic floor issues show up long before pregnancy or menopause, and walk away with a simple daily movement practice that builds body awareness over time. Episode Breakdown [00:01] Lauren's background: from journalism school at NYU to creating a globally practiced movement method[08:46] What the pelvic floor actually is: a dynamic pressure manager, not a squeeze muscle[13:48] How to feel your pelvic floor reflexively: the 100-candle exhale, tailbone wagging and clitoral nodding[21:20] How Lauren talks about pelvic anatomy with clients and why shame-free language changes everything[27:09] Pelvic floor dysfunction in teenagers and young adults: why it starts earlier than most people think[30:52] A five-minute daily mindful movement practice to build body awareness and complete the stress cycle[39:46] On multitasking, boredom and why being more present is actually good for your brain About Lauren Ohayon Lauren Ohayon is the creator of Restore Your Core (RYC), an evidence-informed movement program for core and pelvic floor rehabilitation practiced in 80 countries. She is also the co-founder of Body Ready Method, which has certified over 1,800 pregnancy, birth and recovery professionals globally. With more than 25 years of experience as a yoga and Pilates teacher, Lauren brings lived experience healing her own back injury and navigating three pregnancies into everything she teaches. Her approach blends movement science, nervous system regulation and body literacy to support core and pelvic floor healing without fear or fixation. Theme Song 🎵 Just Breathe by Pearl Jam Key Topics Covered Why the "tighter is better" pelvic floor narrative is incomplete and often harmfulThe pelvic floor as a reflexive pressure manager and shock absorberBreath as the primary driver of pelvic floor movementBody literacy practices for teenagers through menopauseThe 100-candle exhale and other techniques for feeling the pelvic floor without squeezingCompleting the stress cycle through mindful movementWhy pelvic floor issues show up in young people long before pregnancy or menopauseThe overlap between emotional load, nervous system tension and pelvic floor holding patterns Resources Mentioned Restore Your Core — Resource provide by Lauren for The Hole Shebang listeners Related Episodes Ep. 11: Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health with Dr. Sara Reardon - Kegel myths, hypertonic muscles and what the pelvic floor actually needsEp. 44: Rock Star to Pelvic Floor Revolutionary with Dr. Bruce Crawford - Pilates, neuromuscular training and pelvic floor fitnessEp. 67: How Breathwork Heals Chronic Illness with Jenn Mansell - parasympathetic activation and breath as medicineEp. 19: The Ugly Triad with Dr. Nicole Wilson - diaphragm function, pelvic floor integration and core stabilityEp. 35: Unfuckwithable: The Art of Receiving with Haley Bowler-Cooke - somatic practices and nervous system regulation Connect with Lauren Ohayon Website: restoreyourcore.com Personal site: laurenohayon.com Instagram: @thelaurenohayon Connect with The Hole Shebang Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast. Follow on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth Book a pelvic floor assessment at blueberrytherapy.ca - virtual consultations available across Ontario.
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • 82: Prolapse and Pessaries: Losing the Shame with The Vagina Coach Kim Vopni

    82: Prolapse and Pessaries: Losing the Shame with The Vagina Coach Kim Vopni
    Apr 16 2026
    Pelvic Floor Fitness: Why Kegels Alone Will Never Be Enough Pelvic floor exercises are about far more than squeezing. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach, to talk about why standard Kegel protocols fall short and what a comprehensive approach to pelvic floor fitness actually looks like. Kim is a certified fitness professional, menopause support practitioner, author of three books and creator of the Buff Muff Method. With over 21 years in pelvic health, she has helped thousands of women apply real training principles to the pelvic floor at every stage of life. In This Episode [01:27] Kim's origin story: from fearing childbirth to becoming The Vagina Coach [05:39] How a joke at a business conference became a global pelvic health brand [09:25] Why "just do your Kegels" misses the mark and what pelvic floor fitness actually requires [16:03] What to know when you receive a prolapse diagnosis [17:44] Kim's prolapse surgery decision after nine years of symptoms and the shame she carried [22:30] Innovation in the pessary and femtech space [27:31] What are hypopressives and what does the research say [33:54] First steps when you start noticing pelvic floor changes [38:32] The stat that should alarm every clinician: 46% of women stop exercising because of their pelvic floor [39:13] Vaginal estrogen, HRT and becoming the CEO of your body [43:28] Lessons from hosting Between Two Lips: sleep apnea, PRP and avulsion screening [49:56] Why collaboration between pelvic PTs and fitness professionals matters What You Will Learn Why the pelvic floor needs progressive training just like any other muscle group and how to move beyond three sets of 10 Kegels. How a prolapse diagnosis can become a catalyst for improved overall health when you build the right care team. Why pessaries are a tool rather than a failure and how they can be used preventively. What role vaginal estrogen plays in preventive care across the menopause transition. About Kim Vopni Kim Vopni is a certified fitness professional, menopause support practitioner and author of Your Pelvic Floor: A Practical Guide to Solving Your Most Intimate Problems. She is the creator of the Buff Muff Method, founder of Kegels and Cocktails, host of the Between Two Lips podcast and creator of a professional certification program for fitness and movement professionals. Theme Song: "I Lived" by OneRepublic Resources Mentioned Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris The Great Menopause Myth by Kristin Johnson and Maria ClapsHot Flash Inc Podcast by Ann Marie McQueen Your Pelvic Floor by Kim Vopni Related Episodes of The Hole Shebang Ep 21: Pessaries with Kristen Parise and Dr. Maureen MacDonaldEp 23: Understanding Pelvic Organ Prolapse with Dr. Carolyn BestEp 44: Rock Star to Pelvic Floor Revolutionary with Dr. Bruce CrawfordEp 57: Perimenopause Isn't All in Your Head with Jessica CaceresEp 62: Purple Pessaries and AI Fitting with Derek Sham Connect with Kim Vopni Website: vaginacoach.com Instagram: @vaginacoach Podcast: Between Two Lips Buff Muff Method: buffmuff.com Connect with The Hole Shebang Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast. Follow on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help more people find this conversation.
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 81: Sex After Prostate Cancer: Hope and Rehab with Victoria Cullen

    81: Sex After Prostate Cancer: Hope and Rehab with Victoria Cullen
    Apr 9 2026
    Sex After Prostate Cancer: Hope and Rehab Sex after prostate cancer is one of the most common concerns men face after treatment, yet it remains one of the least addressed. In this episode of The Hole Shebang Podcast, Kristen Parise sits down with cognitive psychologist and sexuality educator Victoria Cullen, founder of A Touchy Subject, to talk about what really happens to sexual function after a prostatectomy and what men and their partners can actually do about it. Victoria supports over 430 men worldwide through her private membership hub and brings a practical, pleasure-centered approach to erectile rehabilitation that is changing lives. Episode Timestamps [00:00] Why male sexual health belongs on a pelvic health podcast[02:00] Victoria's journey from cognitive psychology to prostate cancer sexual rehabilitation[08:30] What happens to erection nerves during prostate surgery[16:00] Building your erection recipe: the multimodal approach to rehabilitation[20:30] How vacuum erection devices work and when to start using one[29:00] Partners, teamwork and the better normal[38:00] Pelvic floor physiotherapy and prostate recovery[42:00] What progress actually looks like and how to track it[51:00] A message of hope for men navigating sexual recovery What You Will Learn This episode covers why cavernous nerve recovery after prostatectomy takes two to four years, how vacuum erection devices maintain penile tissue health during rehabilitation, the concept of the erection recipe using multiple stacked interventions, the role of pelvic floor physiotherapy in prostate recovery, what the better normal looks like for couples rebuilding intimacy after cancer treatment, and how wearable technology like the FirmTech TechRing is changing the way men track their erectile function at home. About Victoria Cullen Victoria Cullen is a cognitive psychologist with a BSc and MSc from University College London. She is the founder of A Touchy Subject, an online sexual rehabilitation platform for men after prostate cancer treatment. Victoria has partnered with Professor Declan Murphy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and has presented at the Asia Pacific Prostate Cancer Congress, the Urology Society of Australia and New Zealand conference, and multiple physiotherapy conferences across Australia and New Zealand. She supports over 430 men worldwide through her private membership hub. Theme Song Pump It Up by Elvis Costello (career) and My Way by Frank Sinatra (life) Key Topics Covered Sex after prostate cancerErectile dysfunction after prostatectomyVacuum erection devices and penis pumpsNerve sparing surgery and neuropraxiaPenile rehabilitation timelineConstriction rings and multimodal erection supportClimacturia and arousal incontinencePartner support and couples sexual recoveryPelvic floor physiotherapy for menFirmTech TechRing for tracking nocturnal erectionsPenile implants and nerve grafting surgery Resources and References Mentioned A Touchy Subject by Victoria Cullen A Better Normal: Your Guide to Rediscovering Intimacy After Cancer by Tess DevezeBeyond Erections by Mish MiddelmannFirmTech TechRing for overnight erection monitoringVaxAid Water Pump for shower or bath rehabilitationDr. Jo Milios, men's health physiotherapist and prostate cancer rehabilitation researcher Related Episodes from The Hole Shebang Episode 34: Healing Below the Belt: The Missing Piece in Cancer Care with Alex HillEpisode 37: Sex, Pelvic Health and Breaking Taboos with Dr. Rachel GelmanEpisode 2: Mindfulness to Improve Sexual Desire with Dr. Lori BrottoEpisode 56: The Real Talk about Sex After Cancer Treatment with Dr. Michelle JacobsonEpisode 60: Perimenopause as Your Sexual Debut with Taylor McConnachie Connect with Victoria Cullen Website: atouchysubject.com Instagram: @atouchysubject Email: victoria@atouchysubject.com YouTube: A Touchy Subject YouTube Channel LinkedIn: Victoria Cullen on LinkedIn Subscribe and Support The Hole Shebang Subscribe to The Hole Shebang on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Leave a review to help other people find the show. Visit blueberrytherapy.ca to learn more about pelvic health services and check out blueberrytherapy.ca/podcast for all episodes. Connect with The Hole Shebang Follow on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • 80: What Nobody Tells You After a C Section with Nicole Nifo

    80: What Nobody Tells You After a C Section with Nicole Nifo
    Apr 2 2026

    f you've had a cesarean birth, whether it was recent or decades ago, this episode will change how you think about your scar and your recovery. Registered massage therapist Nicole Nifo joins Kristen Parise to break down what actually happens to your body during a C section, why your scar affects far more than what you see on the surface and how specialized scar therapy can restore function at any stage of life. Nicole also shares her own experience with three cesarean births including an emergency cesarean where her uterus tore from the incision into her cervix.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    This conversation covers the anatomy of a cesarean, what is actually cut during the procedure and how scar tissue forms through approximately seven tissue layers. Nicole explains how scar restrictions can contribute to back pain, pelvic floor tension, incontinence and core dysfunction. She walks through her approach to C section rehabilitation including manual scar release, the Dolphin Neurostim microcurrent technology and functional movement retraining. The episode also digs into the emotional side of cesarean recovery, why so many people struggle to touch their scars and what that tells us about unprocessed birth trauma.

    Key Topics Covered

    What happens to your body during a cesarean section, the seven layers from skin to uterus, and how the procedure has evolved to include gentle cesarean techniques that support immediate bonding and breastfeeding. The gap in postpartum care after surgical birth and why being discharged with only a "what not to do" list fails cesarean parents. How the Dolphin Neurostim uses microcurrent point stimulation to soften scar tissue, reduce adhesions and improve mobility in both new and decades old scars. The connection between C section scar tissue and pelvic floor dysfunction, including why many cesarean parents experience tight pelvic floors, pain with intercourse and stress incontinence. Early postpartum movement including shallow squats, marching, chest opening stretches, hip flexor stretches and desensitization techniques for the scar. The emotional component of scar healing, nervous system upregulation after birth and the practice of placing hands over the incision while affirming safety and healing.

    About Nicole Nifo

    Nicole Nifo is a Registered Massage Therapist with over 20 years of experience specializing in C section rehabilitation and scar therapy. After experiencing an emergency cesarean with her first baby, followed by two planned cesareans, Nicole made it her mission to give postpartum parents the recovery support the medical system doesn't provide after six weeks. She combines manual scar release techniques with the Dolphin Neurostim, a clinically proven microcurrent tool used in over 60,000 hospitals worldwide. Nicole is the creator of the C Section Recovery Method, a 12 week online program, and has just joined the Blueberry Therapy team in Hamilton, Ontario.

    Theme Song: "Larger Than Life" by Backstreet Boys

    Resources Mentioned

    The Dolphin Neurostim microcurrent device for scar release therapy

    Nicole's C Section Recovery Method 12 week online program

    Nicole's Early Recovery Guide (zero to six weeks post cesarean), available through her Instagram

    Connect with Nicole Nifo

    Website: Fully Alive Wellness

    Instagram: @csectionrecoverycoach

    Book with Nicole at Blueberry Therapy in Hamilton, Ontario

    Related Episodes You Might Love

    Episode 78: The Bounce Back Lie and What Postpartum Recovery Actually Looks Like with Michelle Gauvreau

    Episode 66: The New Postpartum Exercise Guidelines That Ditch the Six Week Rule with Dr. Margie Davenport

    Episode 11: Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health with The Vagina Whisperer Dr. Sara Reardon

    Episode 9: Understanding Severe Maternal Morbidity with Dr. Giulia Muraca

    Visit blueberrytherapy.ca and subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast.

    Connect with The Hole Shebang on Instagram @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 79: Menopause Strength Training with Chloe Lewis

    79: Menopause Strength Training with Chloe Lewis
    Mar 26 2026
    In this episode of The Hole Shebang, Kristen sits down with Chloe Lewis, a women's health physiotherapist with 12 years of clinical experience working within the UK's National Health Service. Chloe holds an MSc in Women's Health and is currently completing a PhD investigating resistance training during the menopause transition. Alongside her clinical and academic work, she teaches, speaks, and creates educational content aimed at improving standards in women's health and translating research into practice. She has also set up group based resistance training classes for menopausal women at the doctor's surgery where she works. What You'll Learn: This conversation covers the real reasons menopausal women aren't lifting weights and what actually helps them start. Chloe breaks down the barriers, including time scarcity, the fragility myth, non inclusive gym environments, and the cultural belief that strength training is only for younger, more athletic bodies. She also shares the facilitators that work, like group based exercise, lower cost options, and motivators rooted in long term independence rather than aesthetics. Chloe explains the just released ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) resistance training guidelines, updated for the first time in 17 years, and why they represent a shift toward accessibility. She provides a concrete four exercise starter program: overhead press, vertical row, a push movement like bench press, and a lower body movement like a squat or deadlift, done for two to three sets at a challenging weight, at least twice a week. The conversation then tackles one of the most persistent myths in pelvic health: that lifting worsens prolapse or incontinence. Chloe breaks down the intra abdominal pressure research and explains why training at the edge of symptoms, rather than avoiding exercise entirely, is how we build tolerance and capacity. Chloe also shares her PhD direction. Her goal is a four arm intervention study comparing resistance training alone, resistance training plus pelvic floor exercises, pelvic floor exercises alone, and a control group over 16 to 20 weeks to determine whether progressive strength training improves pelvic floor function. Theme Song: "Can't Hold Us Down" by Christina Aguilera Key Topics Covered: Barriers and facilitators to resistance training in menopause, the updated 2026 ACSM resistance training guidelines, a beginner friendly four exercise program, intra abdominal pressure and the prolapse lifting myth, musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, why menopause specific exercise programs can be predatory marketing, pain education and DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) for new exercisers, progressive overload and building confidence through group training Resources and References Mentioned: ACSM Position Stand: Resistance Training Prescription for Muscle Function, Hypertrophy, and Physical Performance in Healthy Adults (2026) Stuart Phillips, PhD, McMaster University (referenced re: resistance training in menopause) Anthony Lo (referenced re: breath strategies and movement modification for pelvic symptoms) Connect with Chloe Lewis: Instagram: @chloelewisphysio LinkedIn: Chloe Lewis Connect with The Hole Shebang: Visit blueberrytherapy.ca Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast Instagram: @blueberrytherapypelvichealth
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • 78: The Bounce Back Lie and What Postpartum Recovery Actually Looks Like with Michelle Gauvreau

    78: The Bounce Back Lie and What Postpartum Recovery Actually Looks Like with Michelle Gauvreau
    Mar 19 2026
    Michelle Gauvreau is a certified nutrition coach, fitness instructor, published writer, product developer, public speaker, and trusted television nutrition correspondent with nearly two decades of experience in the health and fitness industry. She began her career as Assistant Editor at RK Publishing for MuscleMag and Oxygen Magazine, later serving as Advertising Director and health writer with Inside Fitness and IFM Media. She has competed at the provincial and national level in bikini fitness representing Ontario and Canada, and is the founder of The Michelle Method, a philosophy built on sustainable nutrition, self-love, and helping women build a lifestyle they can maintain for life. She is a mom of three and a dedicated fur mama. In this episode, Michelle and Kristen dig into the real story of postpartum recovery. Michelle had her first son at 30 and her second at 41, following a complicated delivery that required both a C-section and a surgical repair at 36 weeks. Her recovery the second time was dramatically faster, and she attributes it entirely to what she did differently. What listeners will learn: Why consistent movement and clean nutrition during pregnancy is the most powerful investment in postpartum recoveryHow to build back postpartum in phases from zero to two weeks through to four to five months, including when to add impact and how to listen for warning signsWhat postpartum nutrition should focus on, including protein, fiber, hydration, collagen, and the breastfeeding-specific adjustments that are often overlookedHow postpartum and perimenopausal symptoms can overlap for women having babies in their late 30s and 40sThe truth about C-section overhang and why pelvic floor physio plus nutrition addresses it far more effectively than surgery Resources and References Mentioned: Dr. Margie Davenport's postpartum return to exercise guidelines: Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for PostpartumInner Wealth amino acid supplements (mentioned by Michelle for perimenopause symptom support): search Inner Wealth on Instagram Theme Song: I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan Connect with Michelle Gauvreau: The Michelle Method website@themichellemethod on Instagram Connect with Kristen and Blueberry Therapy: Blueberry Therapy websiteThe Hole Shebang Podcast@blueberrytherapypelvichealth on Instagram
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 77: Why Vaginal Dryness Isn't Something You Have to Figure Out Alone with Dr. Dolores Fernandez

    77: Why Vaginal Dryness Isn't Something You Have to Figure Out Alone with Dr. Dolores Fernandez
    Mar 12 2026
    Dr. Dolores Fernandez never planned to specialize in menopause. She opened her naturopathic practice with dreams of treating fertility patients, but menopause kept walking through her door. Today, she's a NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner, founder of IRIS vulva care products, and a passionate advocate for destigmatizing conversations about vaginal health. What You'll Learn In this episode, we explore Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause, or GSM, which is a collection of symptoms affecting 85% of postmenopausal women. These symptoms include vaginal dryness, pain with penetration, recurrent UTIs, and structural changes to the vulva. Dolores explains the science behind why these changes happen, how to assess symptoms clinically, and what treatment options actually work. We discuss the critical difference between vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, why vaginal pH and osmolarity matter for product safety and efficacy, and how to meet patients where they're at when it comes to treatment comfort levels. This conversation also explores why GSM remains so undertreated despite its prevalence, the shame and stigma that prevents people from seeking help, and why Dolores created IRIS when she couldn't find products that met her clinical standards. Guest Bio Dr. Dolores Fernandez, ND, MSCP, is a naturopathic doctor in Ontario, Canada, with a clinical focus in menopause. She is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause Practitioner and a member of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Dolores is the founder of IRIS, offering clean, science backed vulva care products aimed at ending the stigma around women's health. She's also a wife, mom, reader, and fitness enthusiast who believes in creating safe spaces for conversations about intimate health. Theme Song: The Climb by Miley Cyrus Key Topics Covered What GSM (Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause) is and why 85% of postmenopausal women experience itThe progressive nature of vaginal changes and why symptoms can appear years after menopause beginsClinical assessment approaches including physical exams and symptom based evaluationsThe difference between vaginal moisturizers (daily use with hyaluronic acid) and lubricants (for penetration)Why vaginal pH and osmolarity matter for product safety and effectivenessTreatment options from over the counter moisturizers to prescription vaginal estrogen and DHEAThe shame and stigma that prevents people from discussing vaginal health with healthcare providersWhy patients often feel vaginal symptoms are their private responsibility while hot flashes feel acceptable to discussThe importance of anatomical education and helping patients understand their own bodiesHow IRIS was created to fill a gap in the market for evidence based vulva care productsLichen sclerosis and why it's important to treat vulvar conditionsBacterial vaginosis and recurrent infectionsGenitourinary syndrome of lactation in postpartum people Resources & References Mentioned North American Menopause Society (NAMS) at https://www.menopause.orgInternational Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health at https://www.isswsh.orgIRIS Vulva Moisturizer and Personal Lubricant (products formulated with hyaluronic acid, optimal pH, and ideal osmolarity) IRISIRIS was recently included in a journal article as a safe for vaginal use lubricant based on clinical criteria Connect with Dr. Dolores Fernandez Website: https://www.lovemyiris.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdoloresnd IRIS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovemy.iris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doloresfernandeznd Dr. Dolores will be speaking at The Pleasure Principle Conference on May 8th as IRIS is the platinum sponsor. Visit https://www.blueberrytherapy.ca to learn more about pelvic health services in Hamilton, Ontario. Subscribe to The Hole Shebang Podcast on your favourite platform. Connect with The Hole Shebang on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/blueberrytherapypelvichealth
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins