Category Archives: Blog

Recurrent Thrush and the Gut Microbiome: What Did Our Research Find? One of the smaller but interesting parts of my PhD research was looking beyond the vaginal microbiome to ask what was happening in the gut microbiome of people with recurrent thrush/ vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) using fluconazole. In our published pilot study, we compared bothContinue Reading

Understanding recurrent thrush Recurrent vaginal thrush can be physically uncomfortable, emotionally exhausting and deeply frustrating. Many people arrive at Intimate Ecology after months, or even years, of repeated antifungal treatment, only to find their symptoms return again and again. If you’ve found yourself asking, “Why does this keep happening?”, you’re not alone. For many years,Continue Reading

Mother hen here: Barrier Methods This week in clinic I found myself having a very “mother hen: Barrier methods” conversation with a few clients. Not in a condescending way. More in a: “I care about you, your body, your microbiome, and the effort you are going to here” kind of way. Because if someone isContinue Reading

Reproductive Microbiomes and Fertility Why Microbial Health Matters Before Conception and IVF When people think about preparing for pregnancy, the focus is often on hormones, ovulation, egg quality, sperm health, supplements, and timing. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that is increasingly gaining attention in reproductive medicine: The reproductive microbiomes and fertility… Research continuesContinue Reading

Vaginal Microbiome Testing: What It Is and How We Use It at Intimate Ecology At Intimate Ecology, we often use vaginal microbiome testing to gain deeper insight into vaginal health, particularly in people who feel like they’ve exhausted standard pathways without finding answers. Many of the people who come to our clinic have already beenContinue Reading

Fibroids in perimenopause symptoms A recent clinical discussion prompted reflection on how limited the available information is regarding fibroids in perimenopause. While fibroids are common, the way they present and evolve during this life stage is less frequently addressed in both patient education and clinical conversations. Fibroids (leiomyomas) are not isolated entities. They are hormonallyContinue Reading

Lichen Sclerosus, Menopause & the Microbiome Lichen sclerosus (LS) is often managed as a local inflammatory skin condition, with topical corticosteroids forming the cornerstone of treatment for many. But emerging research is pushing us to think more broadly. A recent study examining gut, vaginal, and skin microbiomes in peri- and postmenopausal women with vulvar lichenContinue Reading

HSV holistic approaches and quick relief strategies Working with HSV requires holistic approaches and quick relief strategies. At Intimate Ecology, naturopathic support for recurrent HSV outbreaks provides two layers of support. A safe space to feel seen and heard and to receive the care you deserve. Support for herpes doesn’t always come from one avenue.Continue Reading

By Dr. Moira Bradfield Strydom, PhD, M.Acu, B.Nat At Intimate Ecology, we regularly work with people who, through vaginal microbiome testing, discover the presence of Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma species, members of the Mollicutes family. Usually, the testing has been done because there are pre-existing health symptoms like recurrent symptoms or if people are embarking onContinue Reading

For years, recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) was framed as a “vaginal imbalance” that individuals had to manage alone. Holistically, we have long advocated for partner treatment as a way to reduce microbial sharing. However this notion was not as accepted or considered in standard medical practice until 2025. Shared Microbiomes in BV explores how bacterialContinue Reading