The Reproductive Microbiome for Fertility & Hormones with Dr Golnoush Golshirazi

What if the missing piece in your fertility journey isn’t hormones… but your microbiome?   In this episode of Fertility, Hormones and Hope, we sit down with Dr Golnoush Golshirazi molecular biologist and Co-founder of ScreenMe, to explore the cutting-edge science of the reproductive microbiome — and why it matters for fertility, hormones and women’s health at every stage of life. Golnoush shares her personal journey with endometriosis and recurrent infections which ultimately led her to create ScreenMe — a company focused on bringing advanced microbiome testing (NGS technology) into clinical practice to provide patients with more answers. We dive into the vaginal, uterine, urinary and seminal microbiomes, how they interact as a system, and why both partners should be considered when investigating fertility challenges. Importantly, while ScreenMe does not diagnose conditions, this testing can provide valuable insights to guide next steps, support symptoms and personalise care.   What We Cover: 1️⃣ Introduction & Golnoush’s Story (1:16 – 6:48) Background in gene therapy & precision medicine Golnoush’s personal journey – including painful periods, endometriosis & recurrent infectionsWhy she founded ScreenMeThe need for more personalised, data-driven healthcare   2️⃣ Testing & Technology Explained (6:48 – 13:30) What ScreenMe actually testsUnderstanding Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) vs culture & PCRLimitations of traditional testing (false negatives with cultures)Why NGS is considered the gold standard in microbiome research. The importance of looking at the full ecosystem vs specific strains. When to use different types of testing 3️⃣ Vaginal Microbiome & Women’s Health (14:30 – 35:00) Why the vaginal microbiome is an immune organ and protective barrierThe role of lactobacillus dominanceLinks to fertility, infections and hormonal healthHow hormones, gut health and lifestyle influence the vaginal microbiomeChanges seen across the lifecycle — including menopause 4️⃣ Seminal Microbiome & Male Fertility (35:37 – 45:48) Why male partners must be tested tooSemen microbiome vs vaginal microbiome (key differences)Links to: DNA fragmentation, Sperm qualityEmerging research (including work by leading andrologists). Why this area is under-researched but critically important   5️⃣ Systemic Connections & Support (46:38 – End) When to test vaginal vs uterine microbiomeCorrelations (and differences) between vaginal and uterine findingsImpact of: Hormones, Inflammation, Vitamin D, Diet &lifestyleWhy this is a whole-body, systems-based approachThe difference between dysbiosis vs infectionWhy context and practitioner guidance is essentialManaging expectations — this is cutting-edge, evolving science Using testing to: Gain clarity, guide interventions & inform next steps 📩 Get Involved Have questions about microbiome testing or fertility? Send us a DM or comment over on ⁠Instagram⁠ — we’d love to hear from you! We also have a 10% saving for you on any ScreenMe tests - use code FHH10 Links/where to find us: FHH ⁠Instagram⁠ -   / fertility.hormones.and.hope   Jen ⁠Instagram -   / jenwalpolenutrition   Jen Website - https://www.jenwalpole.com/ Richa Instagram-   / richapuri_hormonesandfertility   Richa ⁠Website⁠ ⁠- https://www.richapurihormones.com/ ScreenMe ⁠Website⁠ - https://screenme.co.uk/ ScreenMe Instagram (women) -   / screenmewomen   ScreenMe Instagram (men) -   / screenmemen