Functional Midwifery: Holistic Gynecology and Women's Health

04/22/2026

Chronic vaginal infections? Maybe it’s your partner! I am so excited to have a new test in my hands which savvy dental offices are now using to test the oral Microbiome for periodontal disease, but I am pioneering using to investigate partner’s mouths when women are struggling with chronic vaginal infections. Research now shows that the partners’ Microbiome can affect the other partner despite the fact that we were taught in school that chronic vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections were not transmissible. It’s also really interesting to consider testing women trying to get pregnant or who are pregnant so as to improve their microbiome, though I’m already doing this through the GIMAP and Evvy tests. I’m so grateful to now have a tool for the women who are already doing all the right things: wearing cotton or non-synthetic underwear, not using scented products, eating well, etc., and still struggling with chronic vaginal infections.

The first test I did was for someone with chronic vaginal infections and her partner indeed had high levels of candida in his mouth. The treatment included some herbal antifungals to take my mouth as well as some dissolving antifungal medicine to use in his mouth several times a day for 10 days.

Want to try it? I really want to check out as many oral microbiomes as possible, so I’m offering this test *at cost* plus a small review fee, so $200 plus shipping if indicated, which is likely just $5 or so. So give a holler if you want to get it!

= my amazing pioneering dentist

04/20/2026

I have to hand it to my yoga teacher .winsor who casually dropped in class yesterday that a staple in her house, which came from her teacher training, is radish with Kerry gold butter and salt, and I have to say it is amazing! Thanks for the great spring snack/aperitif suggestion!

Radishes look simple, but they’re metabolically active little plants with several health relevant benefits—especially for health, liver support, and cardiometabolic health.

1. Digestive + gut microbiome support

Radishes contain fiber plus fermentable compounds that act as mild prebiotics, helping feed beneficial gut flora. They also stimulate bile flow, which:

* improves fat digestion
* can reduce bloating after meals
* supports regular bowel movements

They’ve been traditionally used as a gentle “digestive stimulant” due to their pungent glucosinolates.

2. Liver pathways

Radishes (especially daikon/black radish) contain glucosinolates → isothiocyanates, which:

* upregulate phase II liver detox enzymes
* support glutathione activity
* may help with estrogen metabolism

(This is the same biochemical family that makes cruciferous vegetables like broccoli clinically interesting)

3. Antimicrobial properties

compounds (like raphanin) have mild antimicrobial effects against:

* certain gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
* some fungi

4. Blood sugar regulation

Radishes are:

* very low glycemic load
* contain compounds that may improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake

Some small studies suggest they can blunt post-meal glucose spikes.

5. Cardiovascular support

They provide:

* potassium → helps regulate blood pressure
* anthocyanins (in red/purple varieties) → antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects

🥳

04/14/2026

Saliva testing for ? I prefer not… Blood and urine are the gold standards And a hot 🔥 bit of data just showed that testing testosterone in those who used it topically had very elevated levels as compared to their serum. This is just one reason I don’t really love saliva testing, though I do use it when people are using topically applied hormones, and then I will typically compare it to their blood/serum 🩸 I also love the Dutch test, which is a urine test from But blood is the cheapest option, whether covered by insurance or not, so if that’s my patients preference, we go for that!

04/10/2026

This feels very validating

03/07/2026

I just absolutely love getting emails like this! I had one visit with a client and didn’t hear from her for a year and a half, but got to learn recently that she pretty quickly got pregnant after our visit, and then birthed a healthy baby boy and is now trying to get pregnant again 🥰

03/05/2026

02/25/2026

Women’s athletes so inspiring

We love Amber Glenn for bringing awareness to this 👏

02/15/2026

Today at 4:30 PM at Nourish healing collective in

01/20/2026

Happy Vitamin D Day ☀️

Today marks the return of UVB sunlight at our latitude—which means your skin can once again make vitamin D naturally from the sun. Specifically from noon to 2pm today in Denver you can get UVB to make Vitamin D 🙌

During winter months, the sun sits too low in the sky for UVB rays to reach us, even on bright days. As we cross this seasonal threshold, short, intentional sun exposure becomes a powerful (and free) support for:

• Bone health
• Immune function
• Hormone balance
• Mood and energy

No supplements required—just smart sun habits.
Save this post and share with someone who’s been feeling that winter slump 🌞⛄️

Shout out to and her free app: that helped me know this 🙏


PS to my friends in Vermont: you’ve got another 17 days , hang in there! And friends in Iowa: 8 days. Texas amigas, you’re in the UVB all year round 😉

01/17/2026

Bushra Mahnoor remembers the shame she felt when she had her period as a teen and did not have the supplies she needed. Today she leads a campaign to lower prices for pads in Pakistan.

12/27/2025

I saw this posted in a sort of unexpected place the other day and really loved it. Does anyone know where it comes from?

12/22/2025

I Love seeing these ancient fertility and big lady goddesses!

The discovery of “fertility goddess” figurines at the site of Çatalhöyük has long tantalized scholars. Could the settlement, inhabited more than 9,000 years ago, have been a matriarchal society? Researchers got their answer this year after analyzing DNA from 131 people buried there. That’s why it’s one of our Top 10 Discoveries of 2025.

archaeology.org/issues/january-february-2026/collection/a-feminine-touch/top-10-discoveries-of-2025/

(📸 Tolga İldun)