2025 Women’s Health Q&A: UTIs, Protein, Yin

Summary

In this community Q&A session for Menopause Chronicles and the Women’s Health and Hormones courses, participants gathered to explore practical, grounded approaches to health concerns during perimenopause and menopause. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the current fixation with high-protein diets during this life phase, viewed through both Western and Ayurvedic lenses. The group also explored how shifting hormones affect digestion, the urinary tract, and body composition—especially around the middle. Participants reflected on their evolving needs and shared how they find yin (nourishment and stability), whether or not they have children. The conversation emphasized patience, daily practices, and staying in relationship with the body.

Dr. Welch underscored the importance of context: dietary choices like increased protein must consider digestive capacity, tissue quality, and overall stress levels. The “bucket syndrome” was revisited to clarify how chronic stress can impact different parts of the endocrine system over time. Vaginal health and recurrent UTIs were addressed with both conventional and alternative options, stressing the need to personalize care. A rich discussion unfolded around where women find brahmaṇa and yin—whether through community, rest, visualization, nature, or tending to the body with respect and presence.

🔟 Key Takeaways

• The Western push for high protein during menopause can backfire if digestion is weak; undigested food turns into āma, clogging the body’s channels.

• Brahmaṇa (building) qualities must be balanced with agni (digestive fire) to ensure true nourishment.

• Context matters: just increasing nutrients doesn’t work without considering the body’s ability to absorb and distribute them.

• Sudden weight gain around the middle can sometimes be protective, not pathological—a temporary form of grounding during hormonal transition.

• Topical estrogen can help with vaginal atrophy and recurrent UTIs, but not everyone feels comfortable using it; other natural options exist.

• Awareness, massage, breath, and visualization practices support tissue health and blood flow in the reproductive area, even post-menopause.

• The concept of tend and befriend needs personalization: not all connection needs to come from children or other women; nature, pets, and solitude can be nourishing.

• Patience is a radical act of healing—it counters the world’s harshness and supports the body’s unfolding process during menopause.

• The vanaprastha stage of life invites letting go—not just practically, but spiritually—and creates space for deeper nourishment.

• Daily routine (dinacharyā) should include small acts of care for the parts of the body we tend to ignore.

🗣 5 Exact Quotes from the Session

1. “The ultimate act of rebellion against the harshness of the world is patience.” — cw

2. “If we start piling on the protein without looking at our ability to digest it… it ends up becoming āma.” — cw

3. “There’s something nourishing in the cooperation with letting go.” — cw

4. “Ayurveda is a vehicle for me to be in good company.” — cw

📚 References & Resources Mentioned

• October 2, 2024 Menopause Chronicles  session: With Kim Vopni on pelvic floor health and vaginal estrogen (Suggested by cw re. the role of pelvic health in chronic UTIs)

• January 3, 2025 Menopause Chronicles session: With Rosemary Gladstar on herbal support and natural vaginal lubricants (Suggested by cw re. nourishing reproductive organs post-menopause)

• Cranberry + Aloe Drink for UTIs:

  • ¼ cup 100% organic cranberry juice

  • ¼ cup edible aloe vera juice

  • ½ cup water

  • 100% maple syrup to taste (Shared by cw)

• Audio Resource: “Dissolving Obstructions” visualization, available in the shop section of cw’s website (Mentioned by cw)