✨ The Reproductive Microbiome, Clarinets, and Clara! ✨
This year, my birthday fell on Thanksgiving and I did something new, I gave myself my own present - a clarinet! I grew up playing the piano but I haven't been playing that much since having kids 10 years ago. I've always loved New Orleans jazz clarinet and I really want to duet with my son, Luca, who picked up the trumpet last year when he was 9. Why am I sharing this? My patients inspire me so much and part of this clarinet gift to myself stems from hearing my patients' stories of personal expression, change and vulnerability. Maybe I'm also sharing this as an expression of my perimenopausal awareness that as I get closer to my 50's (and my kids are more self-sufficient), I am reclaiming my time and giving myself a second to be intentional about how I spend my time in this precious life, a theme that comes up in my clinic a lot. I am truly grateful for all that my patients share in the treatment space, thank you!
The Reproductive Microbiome
In November I completed a TON of clinical education and I loved every second of it. It's such an exciting time to be working in reproductive health! My courses were taught by clinicians from Poland, Australia, the US, and the UK and the content spanned the epigenetics of sperm health, the reproductive micriobiome, immunology and fertility, and a deeper dive into one lineage of fertility acupuncture. The overarching theme was the role of epigenetics in reproductive health. I am inspired by the potential value of genetic testing in my practice for my patients. Email me if you have considered genetic testing, I have kits in my office. I am still exploring the value for my patients but if this is an area you have been interested in, let's talk!
Read below for some takeaways from the reproductive microbiome course:
The reproductive microbiome includes distinct organism profiles in the fallopian tubes, endometrium, vagina, cervix and in semen. Even ovarian follicular fluid has a distinct microbiota (thank you IVF researchers for looking at this)!
The placenta has it's own microbiome which is most similar to oral microbiota (interesting!) 🤔
A healthy vaginal microbiome is important for implantation and a healthy pregnancy. Screening for vaginal infections is important, especially given that one infection, bacterial vaginosis (BV), is asymptomatic in up to 25% of people. A vaginal swab can performed in your doctor or midwife's office, or at home. Evvy and Juno Bio are two at-home kits I recommend in my practice.
A healthy vaginal microbiome is also important for IVF success.
Research is showing that endometrial microbiome may have an important role in endometriosis through gene expression and the immune system.
In childbirth, it looks like the mode of delivery is not as important for establishing a newborn's microbiome as the mother's placental microbiome - babies born via c-section and vaginal birth have very similar microbiota at 6 weeks of age.
Farewell to Jami and Introducing Clara
Jami has been an enormous support in this huge year of growth for my practice. You may have met Jami at the front desk in my new location. She is moving on, but I am very grateful for her year with Arrive! Join me in welcoming my new clinic assistant, Clara, who will be our new go-to person for all things scheduling, billing, social media and more. A recent graduate of UC Berkeley, Clara is a certified birth and postpartum doula and yoga teacher. She comes to this position with a passion for women's health and I am excited to get to work with her!
Thank you, Jami!
Welcome, Clara!
Meeting my Clarinet
Thank you for trusting me in your care!
Warmly,
Anne
