Let That Coochie Breathe — A Nurse Midwife on Vaginal Health Across Your Whole Life

Let That Coochie Breathe — A Nurse Midwife on Vaginal Health Across Your Whole Life

Dr. Jennifer Ashby talks with nurse midwife Erinn Lance, CNM — a close friend and the midwife who was in the room when Jen birthed her last baby — about vaginal health across a woman's whole life: why the vagina is a self-cleaning organ, the microbiome and common infections, how discharge changes from first period through menopause, GSM (genitourinary syndrome of menopause) and vaginal estrogen, pelvic floor PT, lubricants, sex after menopause, hydration, and learning to trust your own body. FEATURED OFFER The Energy Prescription, Dr. Jennifer Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. Out October 20th. 👉 Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. The vagina is self-cleaning — leave it alone. Douches and scented washes disrupt the microbiome that keeps pH acidic and hostile to infection. See a provider only when something changes (itching, burning, foul odor). 2. Know your "normal," including discharge — often it's just the body cleaning itself or a sign of ovulation. 3. Sex shifts the environment, and spit is a culprit. If infections recur, skip saliva as lube and use a clean, water-soluble, glycerin-free lubricant. 4. GSM is real, common, and under-treated. As estrogen drops, tissue thins — including the bladder — causing dryness, recurrent UTIs, and incontinence. Vaginal estrogen (cream or ring) is largely local, not systemic. 5. Trust your body and advocate for yourself. If you're dismissed, find another provider — a pelvic exam should never simply be endured. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Welcome + today's topic: vaginas & vaginal health 00:30 Meet Erinn Lance, CNM — nurse midwife & homeopath 05:30 All the names + the origin of "vagina" (a sheath for a sword) 07:30 Birthing a baby together in this room; matrilineal wisdom 18:00 Reproductive years: BV, yeast & the self-cleaning vagina 23:00 pH, lactobacilli, ovulation mucus & "ferning" 32:00 Sex & vaginal health: spit, new partners & clean lubricants 38:00 Talking to kids: "Switzerland" & the "Ace of Sparkles" 44:00 Pregnancy & postpartum; the first 40 days 54:00 Hormonal contraception & the microbiome 56:30 Perimenopause, menopause & GSM 1:01:00 Vaginal tissue changes & vaginal estrogen (cream vs. ring) 1:05:00 GSM & the bladder: UTIs & incontinence 1:08:00 Sex after menopause; "you never have to endure a pelvic exam" 1:12:30 How to pee + hydration deep-dive (weight ÷ 2 in ounces) 1:19:40 One piece of advice: trust your body 1:26:30 Wrap-up + the send-off song GUEST Erinn Lance, CNM — certified nurse midwife caring for women since 1998 in clinics, homes, birth centers, and hospitals. Master's in Nurse-Midwifery, UCSF (1998); founded Centering Pregnancy at Marin Maternity Services; retired from birth work in 2025 and now focused on menopause. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby [https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby]

Tit Chat: What East Asian Medicine Has Always Known About Breast Health

An East Asian Medicine lens on breast health — not a replacement for screening, but a powerful addition. In this solo episode, Dr. Jennifer Ashby explains how your breasts sit at the crossroads of the liver, stomach, and Chong Mai channels, quietly tracking your stress, emotions, hormones, and how well your body clears estrogen. She covers three clinical patterns, left vs. right symptoms, xenoestrogens and alcohol, the emotional layer, and a simple daily prescription — honoring that genetics are real and screening is non-negotiable. The Energy Prescription, Dr. Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. 👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Your breasts are a map. They sit along three channels — liver (qi & emotion), stomach (digestion; runs through the nipple), and the Chong Mai ("sea of blood," linking breasts, uterus & vitality). Three patterns recur: liver qi stagnation (cyclical tenderness, ropey texture, irritability); phlegm & blood stasis (fixed cysts, fibrocystic changes); and kidney deficiency in midlife. Genetics are real and not your fault. With a BRCA variant, dense tissue, or family history, lifestyle does NOT replace screening or your oncologist. But for most women, genes load the gun and environment influences the trigger. The modern world loads the deck: xenoestrogens (heated plastics, conventional products, pesticides, dairy/meat) and alcohol overwhelm the liver; sluggish armpit lymph (tight bras, antiperspirants, hunched posture) traps waste in breast tissue. Emotional layer: liver holds anger, lung holds grief, spleen holds worry. Daily fix: 5-min self-breast massage toward the armpit, swap one xenoestrogen source monthly (start with deodorant), support the liver (cruciferous veg, warm lemon water, less alcohol), move to open the chest, and know your family history and screen. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 START – Welcome + today's topic 00:50 – Your breasts as a map 01:40 – Genetics are real and not your fault 03:00 – The three channels: liver, stomach & Chong Mai 06:20 – Three patterns 09:00 – Left vs. right laterality 11:10 – Genetics & epigenetics 13:40 – Xenoestrogens 15:50 – Alcohol 16:40 – Lymphatic flow & the armpits 18:50 – The emotional layer 21:00 – Your daily prescription 23:00 – Closing: "preservation over reclamation" 🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby [https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby] TOP RESOURCES The Energy Prescription — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] Website — https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Newsletter — https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up]

Tits Up — A Physical Therapist on Breast Health, Posture & Reconnecting With Your Body

Dr. Jennifer Ashby talks with UCSF physical therapist Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT, MBA, about breast health beyond breast cancer: the rehab no one mentions after breast surgery, why posture and the core are the foundation, how to keep the lymphatic system moving, breastfeeding ergonomics, the stress–breast connection, bras, and knowing your "normal" so you catch changes early. THE ENERGY PRESCRIPTION Dr. Jennifer Ashby's new Wiley book, turns her whole-body, East-meets-West approach into a daily toolbox for thriving through perimenopause and menopause. 👉 Pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Physical therapy for breasts exists and is underused — rehab restores mobility and helps women reconnect with their bodies after surgery, radiation, or reconstruction. 2. "Squeeze low" is the posture pearl: gently draw the shoulder blades down (not up), opening the chest and activating the core. 3. Your lymphatic system runs on hydration, diaphragmatic breathing, and movement; ease back in after surgery (the 50/50 rule). 4. Breastfeeding is hard on body and mind — use passive support, switch sides, and protect your mental health. 5. Stress shows up in the breast (cortisol); build daily joy, manage stress, and do regular self-exams to know your normal. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 START – Welcome + today's topic: breasts, all of it 01:00 – Meet Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT — UCSF breast & lymphedema rehab 03:30 – Rehab after breast surgery; reconnecting with your body 08:30 – Boobs, identity & culture 15:30 – Posture & breast health; lordosis & body type 19:45 – The weight of breasts, the spine as a chain, lymphatic flow 26:00 – The core: it's a bowl of muscles 31:00 – Lymphatic system 101 + the 50/50 rule 36:00 – Hydration (and the Tahoe hot-tub tale) 42:00 – Self lymphatic drainage + "squeeze low" 44:30 – Breastfeeding ergonomics & protecting mental health 51:30 – Clogged ducts & mastitis: massage & vibration 58:00 – Diet, alcohol, caffeine & feeding the breast 1:02:30 – Stress in the breast: cortisol & daily joy 1:11:30 – Knowing your normal, self-exams, bras & what's next GUEST Dr. Hidelisa Manibusan, DPT, MBA — physical therapist at UCSF (14+ years) leading breast cancer & lymphedema rehab. DPT, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences; EMBA, Auburn University. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up] Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby [https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby] Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/ [https://jenniferashby.substack.com/] RESOURCES 1. The Energy Prescription (pre-order) — https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 2. UCSF Osher Center — https://osher.ucsf.edu/ [https://osher.ucsf.edu/]

The Epic Eight — 8 Daily Tools to Boost Immunity, Mood & Thrive Through Menopause

In this solo episode of Ovary-Acting, Dr. Jennifer Ashby unpacks the Epic Eight — her BOOM (Basic Optimal Outcomes Method), rooted in East Asian medicine and modern science. Learn the eight daily lifestyle tools — diet, hydration, sleep, breath work, constitutionally appropriate movement, gut health, finding joy & awe, and tools to not embody stress — that boost immunity, stabilize mood, influence disease and gene expression, and steady your energy. This is empowerment, not biohacking. FEATURED OFFER The Epic Eight is the foundation — The Energy Prescription is where it gets personal. Dr. Ashby's new book from Wiley tunes the Epic Eight to the perimenopause and menopause experience: ancient wisdom, modern science, and a little feminist gusto. 👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS The Epic Eight is a reproducible toolbox, not a prescription — eight everyday skills drawn from East Asian medicine. Joy is an inside job; awe is an outside job. Both are daily medicine. It's not about avoiding stress — it's about not embodying it. Chronic stress hormones meant for "a tiger" are making us sick. Lifestyle changes how your genes express — up-regulating the good, down-regulating the rest. The goal is empowerment: manage what you can, and know when to call your doctor. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 START – Welcome + why this is a solo episode 01:00 – Who Dr. Jen is, and why she created the Epic Eight 02:07 – A reproducible toolbox + the book 03:00 – The Epic Eight, listed 04:19 – Tiger vs. inconvenience: how chronic stress makes us sick 05:30 – Predictable outcomes: immunity, mood, disease, genes 06:39 – Prenatal & postnatal qi: preserving your vital essence 07:30 – Where it began: polycystic kidney disease 08:57 – The book, the course coming soon, and empowerment 11:15 – Where to find Dr. Jen + pre-order the book 13:35 – The unique female body + what's ahead CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up] Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/ [https://jenniferashby.substack.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby [https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby [https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby] RESOURCES The Energy Prescription (pre-order): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] DailyOM courses: https://www.dailyom.com/instructors/dr-jennifer-ashby [https://www.dailyom.com/instructors/dr-jennifer-ashby] UCSF Osher Center: https://osher.ucsf.edu/ [https://osher.ucsf.edu/]

Meet Dr. Jen Ashby: Exotic Animals, Acupunture & A Life in Women's Health

Welcome to the very first episode of Ovary-Acting. Dr. Jen Ashby is interviewed by her daughter Lily about the wild road that shaped her: growing up among exotic animals, falling for acupuncture and East Asian medicine, and 30 years of clinical work from county jails to UCSF. The Energy Prescription: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science for Thriving Through Menopause distills her EPIC8 method into a sassy, practical guide for perimenopause and menopause. 👉 Pre-order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Wild animals reveal the basics of health. East Asian medicine helps the body rebalance itself — read via the tongue, pulses, and senses. You are the microcosm; everything you encounter affects your health. Acupuncture has a political U.S. history. Patients need a "quarterback" for their whole-person care. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 START 03:21 – Lily takes over 06:16 – Growing up among exotic animals 13:30 – Finding acupuncture and East Asian medicine 15:27 – Training, the clinical doctorate & Shanghai 19:49 – Microcosm, macrocosm & the "Jade Valley" 22:00 – Acupuncture in SF county jails 31:00 – 30 years of the Lotus Center 40:00 – Healthcare's missing "quarterback" 45:00 – Her other life: rocker, bartender & motorcycles 54:29 – What's next GUEST: Liliana "Lily" Ashby — Dr. Ashby's daughter CONNECT WITH DR. JEN ASHBY Newsletter: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/newsletter-sign-up] Substack: https://jenniferashby.substack.com/ [https://jenniferashby.substack.com/] Website: https://www.drjenniferashby.com/ [https://www.drjenniferashby.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.instagram.com/drjenashby/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby [https://www.tiktok.com/@drjenniferashby] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjenashby/ [https://www.facebook.com/drjenashby/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-ashby-daom-l-ac-m-s-3869924/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-ashby-daom-l-ac-m-s-3869924/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby [https://www.youtube.com/@drjenashby] Email: drjenashby@gmail.com [drjenashby@gmail.com] RESOURCES The Energy Prescription (Wiley): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394389663] Acupuncture Fever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLbuh7JUDZs [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLbuh7JUDZs] NADA: https://acudetox.com/ [https://acudetox.com/] UCSF Osher Center: https://osher.ucsf.edu/ [https://osher.ucsf.edu/] Midi Health: https://www.joinmidi.com/ [https://www.joinmidi.com/]