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In Part 2, Ronny Szelinsky explains the mechanism behind oestrogen-driven microbiome collapse at menopause — and what can be done about it. He introduces the estrobolome, details the research behind Get Happy's Happy Fem probiotic formula, and explains why oral probiotics colonise the gynecological tract as effectively as vaginal delivery. This is the translational bridge between the science of Part 1 and the practical interventions of Part 3.

Key Topics

• How oestrogen controls the thickness of the vaginal and endometrial tissue, and what happens when it drops
• Why UTIs become suddenly frequent after menopause — the biological mechanism
• Vaginal dryness and pain during sex: the mucosal layer explained
• The estrobolome: the bacterial community around the ovaries and its proposed role in oestrogen production
• The contraceptive pill and its long-term impact on microbiome colonisation after stopping
• Happy Fem: how the product was developed, the research methodology, and the fertility clinic partnerships
• Why oral probiotics achieve equivalent vaginal colonisation to vaginal administration — three pathways
• Lactobacillus CA-15: what the published research shows
• Who should take vaginal probiotics and under what circumstances
• When to pause: during pregnancy, and why
• Dosing: six-month courses for specific goals; ongoing daily use for post-menopausal women

Timestamps

• [Part 2 start] — Hormone-microbiome axis, oestrogen and tissue thickness
• [~05:00 into part] — Why UTIs spike at menopause
• [~10:00] — The estrobolome: ovarian bacteria and oestrogen production
• [~17:00] — Happy Fem: product development and research methodology
• [~22:00] — Oral vs vaginal administration — clinical study results
• [~27:00] — Lactobacillus CA-15: what it does
• [~30:00] — Who should take it; when to pause; dosing logic

References and Resources

• Happy Fem product: www.get-happy.com
• Lactobacillus CA-15

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Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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In Part 1 of this conversation with Ronny Szelinsky, founder of Get Happy, we explore the gynecological microbiome — the bacterial community that spans the vagina, uterus, cervix, and urinary tract. Ronny explains why this microbiome operates by completely different rules to the gut, what happens when it becomes dysbiotic, and how its disruption can silently undermine fertility, hormonal health, and longevity. The science is newer than most people realise: the uterus was considered sterile until approximately 2018.

Key Topics

• What the gynecological microbiome is and which anatomical areas it covers
• Why Lactobacillus dominance — not diversity — is the marker of a healthy gynecological microbiome
• The discovery that the uterus is not sterile: what next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed
• The bidirectional microbiome-hormone axis: how bacteria and oestrogen regulate each other
• What causes gynecological dysbiosis: the contraceptive pill, sexual intercourse, sex toys, antibiotics, thyroid medications, vaginal hygiene products
• Normal menstrual inflammation vs chronic pathological inflammation — and the difference between them
• How a dysbiotic microbiome attacks sperm and prevents embryo implantation
• Why 50% of bacterial vaginosis cases have no symptoms — and what that means for unexplained infertility

Timestamps

• 00:00 — Intro and episode overview
• 01:00 — What the gynecological microbiome is; the body's multiple microbiomes
• 03:00 — Reproductive ageing: what it means beyond fertility
• 06:00 — Ronny's background and why he entered this field
• 10:00 — Causes of gynecological dysbiosis: the pill, antibiotics, sexual activity, hygiene products
• 15:00 — How the mucosal lining absorbs compounds and why topical exposure matters
• 19:00 — The uterus is not sterile: the NGS sequencing revolution
• 22:00 — Inflammation: normal vs pathological, and the menstrual cycle
• 27:00 — Sperm attack and implantation failure: the fertility mechanism

References and Resources

• Get Happy website: www.get-happy.com
• Ronny Szelinsky — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronny-szelinsky
• NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing): technique referenced for identifying vaginal and uterine bacterial strains
• Bacterial vaginosis and Gardnerella vaginalis: standard medical references available on NHS/MedlinePlus

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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In Part 2, Anna Butterworth completes the five menopause archetypes with the Post-Menopausal Visionary and the Uninformed Endurer, then explores climate impacts on hormonal health, the VC funding problem in women’s health, and the curveball questions.

Key Topics:

• The Post-Menopausal Visionary: ageing as purpose, not decline

• The evolutionary argument: why humans and whales go through menopause

• Skin and vaginal dryness, muscle loss, osteoporosis in post-menopause

• Anti-ageing culture vs. embodying age

• Home health suites and at-home biomarker diagnostics

• The Uninformed Endurer: the forgotten consumer

• Low-barrier, affordable, stigma-free menopause solutions

• Why generic, scalable tools matter as much as personalised ones

• Upskilling primary care teams to identify menopause symptoms

• Environmental factors: PFAS, toxins, climate change and menstrual irregularity

• Why a one-degree temperature rise disproportionately affects women

• VC funding models and why they’re stunting women’s health innovation

• The Phase app and cycle-based productivity

• Book recommendations: Invisible Women and Unwell Women

• Anna’s unusual habit: a lifelong fascination with Mormon culture

• Investing in your team as the highest-return decision

References & Resources Mentioned:

• The Future of Menopause 2035 – Ultraviolet Agency report - https://www.ultravioletagency.com

• Phase app (phaseapp.io) – cycle-based productivity tool

• Biohacking Eve earlier episode with Maggie McDaris, founder of Phase - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/15-aligning-work-with-biology-maggie-mcdaris-on-cycle/id1782080943?i=1000743385443

• Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

• Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn

• Iris Apfel – referenced as cultural example of ageing visionary

• Pamela Anderson – referenced as example of natural ageing in public life

Guest Links:

• Ultraviolet Agency – https://www.ultravioletagency.com

• Anna Butterworth LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabutterworth

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com