Know Your Flow podcast
In this episode of Know Your Flow, Stef speaks with Dr Shirin Lakhani about the stigma and silence surrounding women’s intimate health. They explore why symptoms such as dryness, discomfort and vulval skin changes can be difficult to talk about, why knowing your own normal matters, and how informed conversations can make it easier to seek appropriate care.
In This Episode, We Discuss
- Why intimate health is still surrounded by stigma, and how to start the conversation
- What “knowing your normal” can mean in practice
- Why pain, dryness, skin changes or other persistent symptoms deserve assessment
- Procedures Dr Shirin discusses in her own practice, including Morpheus8V and the O-Shot
- The importance of self-advocacy and confidence when seeking help
- How better information can replace embarrassment and silence
“When women start talking openly, it shifts the whole conversation from embarrassment to empowerment.”Stef Meachin
Episode Takeaways
Discomfort should not simply be accepted
Dr Shirin’s central message is that persistent pain, dryness or discomfort should not be dismissed as something women just have to live with. Symptoms can have many causes, so the useful next step is assessment rather than self-diagnosis.
Knowing your normal can help you notice change
Understanding what is usual for your own body can make it easier to recognise new symptoms and explain them clearly to a clinician. That principle applies across intimate health, including changes in discharge, skin, comfort, bleeding or sensation.
Conversation can reduce shame
Silence can make intimate symptoms feel unusual or embarrassing. Stef and Dr Shirin discuss how open, matter-of-fact language can make it easier to ask questions, seek help and understand what care is available.
Procedures need individual clinical assessment
The episode includes discussion of Morpheus8V and the O-Shot, procedures offered in Dr Shirin’s field of practice. Their suitability, evidence base, risks and regulatory position can vary. Mentioning them in the episode is not a femme endorsement or a recommendation that they are appropriate for every person.
Your concerns deserve to be heard
Self-advocacy does not mean having to diagnose yourself. It can be as simple as describing what has changed, how long it has been happening, what affects it and what you need help understanding.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Persistent vulval or vaginal pain, dryness, itching, skin changes, unusual bleeding, recurrent symptoms or anything that feels significantly different from your normal should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. A clinician can assess possible causes and explain evidence-based treatment options. For broader context on vaginal health, read our guide to the vaginal microbiome.
Episode Chapters
Listen & Subscribe
Listen to Know Your Flow by femme on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also learn more about Dr Shirin’s clinical practice at Elite Aesthetics.
