Kate Tolo

vaginamaxxing is here

You probably saw my 1%

Finally dropping my protocol

A vaginal microbiome is downstream of whole-body health. The goal is ‘Lactobacillus crispatus dominance’ which is the most protective species a vagina can host.

Daily habits
- Cotton underwear
- Sleep 8 hours
- Manage stress
- Stabilize blood glucose
- Move daily
- Don't smoke

What to eat
These are all generally good for health and may support the gut-vagina axis

- Fiber: 25-35g/day
- Fermented foods
- Polyphenols (berries, olive oil, dark chocolate, green tea)
- Omega-3s (fatty fish, flax, chia)
- Adequate iron, especially if you menstruate heavily
- Vitamin D (some studies link low vitamin D to BV)
- Avoid added sugar
- Avoid ultra-processed foods
- Avoid alcohol

What to avoid
Keep in mind that more data is needed on vaginal health… here are some sensible tips on what to avoid:

- Douching. The vagina is self-cleaning
- Scented soaps or "feminine washes"
- Washing inside the vulva, warm water on the outside only
- Boric acid unless treating a confirmed issue (it's not a daily product)
- Probiotic suppositories without a reason
- Leaving tampons in for extended periods

Other tips for you…

Sex hygiene
- Pee after sex if you want… no cost, possibly helpful, evidence is mixed (I do)
- Semen is alkaline (pH ~7.5). Vaginal pH is 3.8-4.5. Repeated unprotected sex with the same partner stabilizes but new exposures destabilize
- FYI, saliva during oral sex transfers oral flora
- Get tested with every new partner

Your testing options:
- Vaginal microbiome test (mine is from Immortals)
- Vaginal pH strips at home (target: 3.8-4.5)
- Full STI panel with every new partner
- Pap/HPV per your country's guidelines

Watch out for…
- Fishy odor (BV)
- Cottage cheese discharge + itch (yeast)
- Frothy yellow-green discharge (trich)
- Burning with urination (UTI/STI)
- Bleeding between periods or after sex
- Pelvic pain

Fortunately, the vaginal microbiome is one of the most responsive systems in the body. It changes within days of a behavior change.

I hate that taboo topics stop women from getting access to healthcare

This is why I measure my vaginal microbiome every day (it’s part of a 14 million data point female health experiment).

women are most similar to men when they're on their periods

the first few days of her cycle are when female hormones are at their lowest

can we plz figure out PMS before inventing superintelligence? ty

almost no one has said “worker is more valuable”

but it seems our societal infrastructure disagrees?

In the U.S…

1/ the US is the only wealthy country with no federal paid parental leave. workers get 12 weeks unpaid… if they qualify (around 40% don't)

2/ infant daycare costs more than in-state college tuition in most states (around $13k per yr average)

3/ a work year is ~250 days. a school year is ~180. the school day ends 2–3 hours before the work day

4/ social security pays you based on your 35 highest-earning years…. While a year spent raising a kid counts as $0

how does one reconcile that?