Vaginal discomfort is one of the most common reasons people seek care, and Dr. Dean Mitchell and Dr. Kate McLean get honest about why vaginitis is so often misdiagnosed and why symptoms so often come right back after treatment.

They break down how most office based testing works, why standard PCR panels can miss key bacteria like Gardnerella, and how Evvy’s next generation sequencing approach looks at the full vaginal microbiome instead of a short checklist. The conversation also covers what a healthy vaginal microbiome actually looks like, why lactobacillus dominance matters, and why higher vaginal microbiome diversity is often linked with worse fertility and pregnancy outcomes.

A major shift in thinking comes up around bacterial vaginosis and recurrence. New research suggests male partners may need treatment too, and they explain how Evvy’s treatment model addresses both the microbiome and reinfection risk.

They also walk through how Evvy’s at home test works step by step, what it costs, how results are reviewed through an asynchronous clinician consult, and when symptoms should prompt an in person medical evaluation.

Support the Show on Patreon - Join here!

If you’d like to go deeper beyond the weekly episodes, you can become a member of The Smartest Doctor In The Room Patreon community.

Patreon members receive access to bonus content, extended discussions, and thoughtful medical Q&As that expand on the topics covered on the show. It’s a space for listeners who want more context, nuance, and ongoing conversation around health and medicine.

Your support helps keep the podcast independent and allows Dr. Mitchell to continue sharing honest, experience-based insight without outside influence.

Contact Dr. Mitchell:

Email: care@mitchellmedicalgroup.com

Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

LinkedIn

Order your copy of Dr. Mitchell’s latest book, Conquering Candida, here.

Be sure to visit ImmunoLytics & use coupon code SmartestDoc for 5% off