12: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD - Episode 1212: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD - Episode 12
UK Health Radio Podcast
Dr Dean Mitchell talks with Dr Kate McLean about recurrent vaginitis, why standard tests often miss the mark, and how Evvy’s at-home microbiome sequencing changes diagnosis and treatment. The discussion also covers treating male partners for BV and the links between the vaginal microbiome and fertility.
49:49•1 Sept 2026
Vaginitis, Microbiomes and Partner Treatment with Dr Kate McLean
Episode Overview
- Traditional microscopic and limited PCR tests miss many cases of bacterial vaginosis, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and recurrence.
- Evvy’s next-generation metagenomic sequencing identifies all microbes in a vaginal sample, giving detailed protective and disruptive microbiome scores.
- Healthy vaginal microbiomes are low in diversity and dominated by lactobacillus, which is linked to fewer infections and better reproductive outcomes.
- Evvy’s BV treatment programme combines boric acid, vaginal antibiotics and vaginal probiotics to reduce BV bacteria and rebuild lactobacillus populations.
- New evidence supports treating male partners of people with BV using antibiotics, which can significantly lower recurrence rates.
“Vaginal discomfort is one of the leading reasons that people with vaginas seek healthcare advice in this country. And the sad part is that more than half the time they're misdiagnosed.”
In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn about a health issue that affects countless people yet is often misunderstood: recurring vaginitis. Dr Dean Mitchell talks with Dr Kate McLean, an obstetrician-gynaecologist and chief medical officer at Evvy, about why vaginal discomfort is so common, so frequently misdiagnosed, and why symptoms keep coming back. Dr McLean sets the scene with a stark reality: “Vaginal discomfort is one of the leading reasons that people with vaginas seek healthcare advice...
And the sad part is that more than half the time they're misdiagnosed.” From there, you'll hear how traditional in-clinic tests, based on looking at swabs under a microscope or limited PCR panels, can miss the real cause of symptoms, especially in bacterial vaginosis (BV).
The episode walks through how Evvy’s at-home vaginal swab and next-generation metagenomic sequencing give a full picture of the vaginal microbiome, identifying all microbes present and showing how much protective lactobacillus versus disruptive bacteria there are. Dr McLean explains why, unlike the gut, a **low** microbial diversity dominated by lactobacillus is actually the healthiest state for the vagina.
You’ll get a clear rundown of Evvy’s treatment approach for BV: starting with boric acid to break up bacterial films, following with vaginal antibiotics, and then rebuilding the microbiome with vaginal probiotics. A major talking point is new evidence that BV is sexually transmitted and that treating male partners with antibiotics can significantly reduce recurrence, even though there’s no established BV test for men.
The conversation also touches on links between the vaginal microbiome, fertility, IVF success, miscarriage and preterm birth, and how Evvy’s large data set may help clarify these connections. If recurring vaginal symptoms, partner involvement, or fertility worries are on your radar, this episode offers practical, science-based ideas to discuss with a trusted health professional. Could a better understanding of your microbiome be the missing piece in your own health journey?
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