Her House: Built for Women's Health

The First Drug-Free Treatment for Vaginal Infections

Melissa D'Elia — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 17:47:23 -0400

Vaginal infections are equally common and uncomfortable. Dr. Kim Langdon, former OB-GYN and founder of Coologics, joins Her House to unpack why conditions like yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis remain so persistent — and why current treatments are increasingly falling short.

From her own experience as both a patient and physician, Dr. Langdon shares how frustration with outdated, drug-heavy solutions led her to develop a completely new, drug-free approach. We dive into the science behind vaginal microbiome balance, the growing problem of antifungal resistance, and how a simple shift in temperature may offer a breakthrough in treatment — and even prevention of more serious outcomes like preterm birth.

We can’t stop talking about:

Why vaginal infections are so common
The limitations (and declining effectiveness) of current antifungal treatments
How cooling-based technology may reverse infections by restoring the body’s natural balance
The connection between vaginal health, inflammation, and serious risks like preterm birth
Historical dismissal of women’s health — from clinical research gaps to fundraising challenges

Connect with Coologics & Dr. Langdon:
Visit: www.coologics.com
Instagram: @coologics_womenshealth
Connect with Dr. Langdon - info@coologics.com

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you!
Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Life Doesn’t Stop When You Start: New Tech for Managing Period Pain

Melissa D'Elia — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:36:37 -0500

In this episode, we sit down with Amy Gaston, of OhmBody — a new women’s wellness company using science-backed neurostimulation to dramatically reduce period pain and heavy bleeding. We share a story so many women know too well: feeling unheard, managing pain with limited options, and dealing with disruptions to daily life.

We can’t stop talking about:

How a technology originally designed for opioid withdrawal and traumatic blood loss is now providing menstrual symptom relief
The staggering number of women suffering from heavy bleeding and pain — and why so many don’t know it’s not normal
How wearable nerve stimulation can calm the body, balance the nervous system, and reduce bleeding without hormones or surgery
The power of education, awareness, and self-advocacy
The future of women-led innovation — and why more female voices at the table accelerate solutions

Connect with OhmBody & Amy:
Visit: ohmbody.com
Instagram: @ohm.body
TikTok: @ohmbody
Connect with Amy on LinkedIn

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you!
Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

An Exam Room and a Wellness Sanctuary — All in One Place

Melissa D'Elia — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 07:51:55 -0400

In this episode, we sit down with sisters Dr. Bahar and Dr. Maral Malekzadeh, founders of Advanced Women’s Health & Surgery and The Well in Westlake, Ohio who are transforming the typical gynecology visit into a calm, connected, whole-body experience. We share a story every woman can relate to: feeling rushed, dismissed, or left with more questions than answers after a doctor’s appointment.

We can’t stop talking about:

Their comforting, aesthetic environment — and why thoughtful design, from the lighting to the bathrooms, raises the bar.
Why a practice that offers gynecology, hormone therapy, and aesthetics all under one roof helps women care for their bodies and their minds.
Why postpartum care and holistic follow-up matter so much more than a single 6-week check-in for new moms.
The importance of seeing a doctor who listens, educates, and advocates — and how not to settle until you find one who does.

Connect with Dr. Bahar & Dr. Maral:
Visit: clevelandgyn.com
Instagram: @thewell.westlake

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you!
Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Pads on a Roll: Making Period Care as Standard as Toilet Paper

Melissa D'Elia — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:37:07 -0400

This conversation explores the need for broader access to menstrual products — a basic necessity that’s still treated as optional. We share a story of a period mishap many women can relate to, followed by an interview with Jennifer Severns of Egal Pads, who is leading a movement to make period products as available and stigma-free as toilet paper.

We can't stop talking about:

The design breakthrough of “pads on a roll” — a simple, sustainable solution that hangs right next to toilet paper in stalls at schools, airports, and stadiums.
How stigma and silence around menstruation fuel challenges for girls and women — unnecessarily missing life events.
Why menstrual equity is both a dignity issue and a business case: when women have what they need, they can stay at school, at work, and in the game.

Connect with Jennifer:
LinkedIn: Jennifer Severens
Visit: Egal: Pads on a Roll

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Maria Shriver: Women Deserve Better Healthcare

Melissa D'Elia — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

This episode begins with a personal story of a woman whose persistent abdominal pain led to repeated ER visits, unnecessary surgery, and delayed cancer detection — all because her symptoms were dismissed. We then sit down with Maria Shriver, lifelong advocate for women, journalist and Chief Visionary and Strategic Advisor for the Cleveland Clinic’s Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center. Maria shares her mission to transform how women’s health is understood, researched, and delivered — across every stage of life.

We can’t stop talking about:

The Cleveland Clinic Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center because of its investment in integrated, whole-life care for women — from adolescence to advanced age.
Menopause triggering new symptoms like migraines, asthma, or other conditions women have never experienced before and the reality that women’s health research is decades behind in areas like hormone therapy, brain health, and disease prevention.
How clinical trials are one way to advance women’s health research — and often provide participants with top-tier care.
“Women’s health” is not just reproductive health — it’s a continuum that includes mental health, bone health, cardiovascular health, neurological health, and more.
Your right and responsibility to advocate for yourself and other women — before, during and after medical appointments.

Connect with Maria via her book: I Am Maria

Learn more about the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Comprehensive Health and Research Center

Have an idea or story to share?
We’d love to hear from you! Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Options Beyond the Knife for Endometriosis

Melissa D'Elia — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:49:20 -0400

This conversation explores the need for new approaches to diagnose and treat endometriosis — a painful disease that impacts millions of women yet remains notoriously under-researched. We share one woman's story dealing with painful sex due to the disease followed by an interview with Dr. Idhaliz Flores, a six-time PhD, professor at Ponce Health Sciences University, and Chief Scientific Officer at Nura Health, who talks about her personal journey from patient to pioneering researcher for reshaping the options for care.

We can't stop talking about:

Endometriosis affecting an estimated 10% of women globally — yet it’s still commonly misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Symptoms like severe cramps, fatigue, and pain during sex are often normalized or dismissed for years.
The only definitive diagnosis for endometriosis being laparoscopic surgery. That means many women go undiagnosed for years — often until infertility or severe complications arise.
Endometriosis tissue has been found not only in the pelvis — but in the lungs and even the brain. It’s not just a reproductive condition; it's a full-body disease with systemic symptoms like inflammation and chronic fatigue.
There’s no cure for endometriosis — and most treatments are hormonal contraceptives. These aren’t viable for everyone, especially for women trying to conceive, leaving many stuck choosing between pain relief and fertility.
Blood-based biomarker tests for endometriosis are finally emerging. Dr. Flores and her team at Nura Health are working to enable diagnosis through a simple sample — no surgery required.

Connect with Idhaliz:
LinkedIn: Dr. Idhaliz Flores
Visit: Nura Health
Visit: The EMMA Consortium

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Why We Can't Stop Talking About Women's Health

Melissa D'Elia — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 08:17:11 -0400

Her House: Built for Women's Health is all about engaging and encouraging women to be proactive advocates in their healthcare experience. We strive to celebrate leaders and care providers who are building solutions for the betterment of women's health.

Did you know?

Women weren’t required to be included in U.S. clinical trials until 1993.
That means decades of medical research was built primarily on male biology.

Women’s bodies have been underrepresented in basic research.
In animal studies, male mice were often the default — despite sex differences that could affect outcomes.

Sex-specific analysis and dosing has historically been rare in drug approvals.
Even though women metabolize many medications differently than men.

Thankfully,

Funding for women’s health research has nearly doubled in the past decade.
Major public and private initiatives are prioritizing sex-based research like never before.

The FDA is increasingly mandating sex-based data analysis in clinical trials.
More therapies are now being evaluated and approved with women’s unique biology in mind.

Femtech is one of the fastest-growing health sectors.
Startups are driving innovation in menstrual health, fertility, menopause, and chronic conditions affecting women.

Read the Women's Health Access Matters Report

Is Sleep Apnea Overlooked in Women? (And What’s Changing)

Melissa D'Elia — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:56:21 -0400

This episode explores the overlooked connection between sleep health and cardiovascular outcomes, especially for women. Dr. John Kim, ER physician and venture capitalist at Aphelion Capital (American Heart Association), shares insights into gender biases in diagnosing sleep disorders and the emerging technologies reshaping treatment.

We can't stop talking about:

Women being less likely to be referred for sleep apnea testing — even when they show symptoms. Fatigue, mood shifts, and headaches in women are often misattributed to hormones or depression instead of sleep disorders.
Untreated sleep apnea putting serious strain on the heart. When breathing repeatedly stops or slows during sleep, the heart works harder to supply oxygen — increasing cardiovascular risks over time.
Estrogen's potentially protective role against sleep apnea. After menopause, a woman’s risk increases — suggesting hormones are a key factor in sleep-related health changes.
Standard CPAP machines having only a 50% adherence rate. Many patients find them too uncomfortable or claustrophobic — especially women, who may drop off early in treatment.
Personalized nerve stimulation treatments on the horizon. Startups are developing minimally invasive, tailor-fit sleep apnea devices that adapt to a person’s anatomy — with some aimed specifically at women’s needs.Most sleep apnea marketing targetting men — but women are a growing, underserved market. New technologies aim to be more discreet, effective, and aesthetic to appeal to this overlooked group.

Connect with John:
Visit: Aphelion Capital's Website
LinkedIn: Dr. John Kim

Have an idea or story to share?

We’d love to hear from you! Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth

Improving Imaging in Dense Breast Tissue + A Career Dedicated to Women's Health

Melissa D'Elia — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:46:48 -0400

This episode explores the power of data to improve breast cancer detection — and the career journey of one woman advancing innovation in women’s health worldwide. Marissa Fayer, CEO of Deep Look Medical and founder of Her HealthEQ, shares how her engineering background and corporate experience helped her lead a startup focused on visualizing cancer in dense breast tissue.

We can't stop talking about:

45%–50% of women having dense breast tissue. Dense tissue appears white on a mammogram — just like cancer — making tumors harder to detect.
Women of Black, Asian, and Jewish descent being disproportionately affected by dense breast tissue. This leads to a 3x higher risk of developing breast cancer in these groups — yet many don’t know they’re at risk.
Recalls (being called back for more imaging) being something radiologists want to avoid, too. Tools that help them feel more confident in what they see could reduce stress for both doctors and patients.
How technology that’s been replaced in the U.S. can still be repurposed and save lives globally. Her HealthEQ, helped install a repurposed machines in Costa Rica — and they are still in use 10+ years later.
That women reinvest over 90% of their income into their families in low-income countries — compared to just 45% for men. It's one reason Her HealthEQ focuses on access to diagnostics and care for women around the world.

Connect with Marissa:
Visit: Deep Look Medical
Visit: Marissa Fayer
Visit: HERhealthEQ
LinkedIn: Marissa Fayer

Have an idea or story to share? We’d love to hear from you! Visit: her-house.com/your-stories — 100% anonymous submissions welcome.

Contact: melissa@her-house.com
Visit: her-house.com
Instagram: @herhouse.forwomenshealth