🔍 Episode Summary

In this powerful episode, Dr. Brittany Barreto sits down with Dr. Melanie Santos — a fellowship-trained urogynecologist and Chief Medical Officer of CERN Corporation — to discuss the pelvic floor as the epicenter of women's health, why vaginitis is the #1 medical complaint among premenopausal women, and how low-level visible light therapy might just be the drug-free future of vaginal care.

Together, they explore the often-overlooked complexity of pelvic health, the limitations of current treatments for urinary incontinence and recurrent infections, and the groundbreaking potential of CERN’s intravaginal light-based therapy. This episode is packed with clinical insight, passionate advocacy, and a clear vision for the future of women’s health.

🧠 What You'll Learn

• Why pelvic floor health impacts nearly every facet of a woman’s life — from intimacy to digestion to mental wellness

• The staggering prevalence of vaginitis and why current treatments fall short

• How CERN Corporation is using low-level microbicidal light to treat yeast and bacterial infections without antibiotics

• The science behind the vaginal microbiome — and why it’s the “wild west” of research right now

• How cultural norms, product marketing, and racial health disparities influence vaginal health

• • The growing need to educate and empower patients, especially women of color, about safer and more effective solutions
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  🧬 Featured Topics:

• • Reframing urinary incontinence as a treatable condition — not a “normal” part of aging

  • The clinical design and mechanism of CERN’s intravaginal device

  • Potential global health applications of light-based vaginal therapy, including for the military

  • The vaginal microbiome, recurrent infections, and the promise of sequencing startups like Juno Bio

  • The overlooked connection between hormone metabolism, gut health, and vaginal health

  🧵 Quotable Moments:

  “The pelvic floor is the epicenter. It’s pleasure, infection, childbirth, digestion — it’s everything.” – Dr. Brittany Barreto

  “We’re not just treating infections; we’re restoring balance — and we’re doing it without drugs.” – Dr. Melanie Santos

  💡 Resources Mentioned:

  • CERN Corporation – Innovators in light-based treatment for vaginitis

  • Unlocking Women’s Health by Dr. Brittany Barreto – Featuring chapters on vaginal and urinary health

  • Juno Bio – Vaginal microbiome sequencing startup

• • CDC and ACOG statistics on vaginitis and preterm birth
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  👩🏽‍⚕️ About Dr. Melanie Santos:

• Dr. Santos is a board-certified, fellowship-trained urogynecologist and reconstructive pelvic surgeon. She serves as the Chief Medical Officer at CERN Corporation and is the Medical Director for Pelvic Health at St. Jude Medical Center. She’s an advocate for integrated care models, pelvic floor education, and driving innovation in vaginal health.

  🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe:

  Don’t miss this must-hear episode for anyone interested in women’s health innovation, pelvic care, and the future of non-drug treatments. Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.