Roughly 60% of women will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime. 40% will experience a recurrence within the next 6 months. For some of us, it's our most loyal and consistent relationship we never asked for.

But why are women so prone to UTI's? Why can't we enjoy a fun night without worrying about peeing papercuts? What happens when we pee, shower and cranberry our way to peace of mind, but the infection still finds us?

Is this final destination? Genetics? ...... the consequences of last night's vodka & lukewarm pizza?

Join Katie Thompson and women's health educator and physician, Dr. Amy Papermaster, as we dive into the science of Urinary Tract Infections aka UTI's and what lies beneath the bacterial infection that greets us at dawn and get clear on the stigma surrounding hygiene, lifestyle and our supposed anatomical shortcomings.

We'll cover the basics of why these infections take place, what makes women especially susceptible and key indicators that may signal your body is prone to recurrent visits within the first 6-9 months of an initial infection. We'll also discuss why UTI's have nothing to do with your hygiene or "doing it wrong," instead, we'll talk about methods for adequately treating a UTI, why getting in front of "the burn" is not as simple as downing water and cranberry juice, and the importance that age plays in both the likelihood of recurrence and in the severity of infection.

If left ignored and untreated, UTI's can quickly lead to much broader systemic issues, neurological disorders and at worst, kidney failure.

This is a serious topic, but here at SMV, we didn’t come to this life to spend it scared of our own urethras.

Knowledge is power. And when the vag screams, that means it’s the call. It’s time to ask questions and get clear on how to resolve these infections once and for all.

Welcome back to a brand new dose of women's health & educational chaos-- said out loud-- with Katie Thompson and leading women's health series, I Shaved My Vag For This.

Class is officially back in session.

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Like what you hear? Comment, like, and subscribe to be first in line for new episodes covering all topics in women's health, lifestyle and more.

What should we cover next? Connect with ⁠@iamKatieThompson ⁠and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find details on guests, future episodes and more.

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About Our Guest

Dr. Amy Papermaster holds a joint Clinical Assistant Professor appointment in the School of Nursing and Dell Medical School Department of Women’s Health. A native Texan, Dr. Papermaster earned a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at The University of Texas at Austin. She received a Master of Science degree in the Family Nurse Practitioner program from Vanderbilt University.

As an educator, she is driven to promote student nurses to become the patient’s advocate and voice through skilled, evidence-based competent and comprehensive care. Research interests include knowledge-sharing and collaboration and advancing the field of women’s health in areas such as vulvar, pelvic-floor, and pelvic pain disorders. Clinically, she is proud to have worked alongside her colleagues in the emergency department as a nurse, and in women’s health practices as a nurse practitioner.

Her clinical focus is on promotion of health and prevention of disease for women across the lifespan and is passionate about helping women with complex gynecologic conditions achieve their treatment goals. Currently, she practices at UT Health Austin Women’s Health Department.

Connect with Amy @amypapermaster and hear more from Dr. Papermaster on her podcast, Off The Charts, exploring women’s health topics that may not always fit “in the chart.”

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I Shaved My Vag For This is founded, written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video production and editing by Sophia Puccetti.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies composed and produced by Katie Thompson.

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In SMV We Trust.

Ah. Mean Girls. The invisible thread that trauma bonds us together.

But, have you ever wondered why girls pit themselves against one another? Why is psychological warfare our weapon of choice? And what do the parents have to do with it? Turns out, they might be 50% of the equation.

Join us for a jam-packed conversation with leading expert on tween/teen girl development and teen parent life coach, Barb Steinberg, as she guides us through all of the inner workings of mean girls, human evolution, and the generational responsibility we carry to teach our kids how to understand anger and ways to point personal

pain toward growth and compassion.

Lastly, we’ll discover whether or not today's bully and victim are of the same kind, and why the landscape is dramatically different with the proliferation of phones and social media.

Buckle up SMV, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

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Like what you hear? Leave 5 stars and follow to be first in line for new episodes covering all topics in women's health, lifestyle and more.

What should we cover next? Connect with me⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@IamKatieThompson and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠to find more details on guests, future episodes and more

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Find Barb Steinberg @barb.steinberg.parenting.girls and learn more about her teen/tween girl and parent coaching practice at barbsteinberg.com.

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies composed and produced by Katie Thompson.

Comin' in HOT and READY, live from Spotify Studios in Los Angeles, California.

We're covering a favorite topic in the science of self-actualization. A silent, unbreakable superpower called: IDENTITY. It's the ultimate freedom.

What better time than now to recapture the importance of the values that define us, the life experiences that we've triumphed over and the characteristics we cherish about ourselves that we'll forever hold onto as sacred and true, no matter what the world around us looks like.

I'm honored to cover this topic today with the ever-inspiring and hilarious writer, comedian, and actress London Hughes ⁠@thelondonhughes⁠, best known for her breakout role in Fleabag and her hit Netflix comedy special, To Catch A D*ck. She's the first British black woman ever nominated for Best Comedy Show at the prestigious Edinburg Comedy Festival and most recently, she's published a page-turning memoire called Living My Best Life, Hun.

London joins us today to share all about her journey from the UK to Los Angeles, as she continues to defy all odds and triumph forward in hermissionto transform cultural perception of race, gender and identity through media andcomedic storytelling.

She's the embodiment of how leading from your truth can lead to a life and career of your dreams.

SMV, get ready. This is the episode to share and lift your friends up, to add to that playlist when you need a motivational ass-kicking-- one that you'll return back to for months and years to come.

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Like what you hear? Leave 5 stars and follow to be first in line for new episodes covering all topics in women's health, lifestyle and more.

What should we cover next? Connect with me⁠⁠ ⁠@IamKatieThompson and⁠⁠ ⁠@thesmvpodcast ⁠⁠⁠to find more details on guests, future episodes and more

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I Shaved My Vag For This is hosted by Spotify.

Written and produced by Katie Thompson.

Video editing by Atelier Nihel.

Podcast theme song and musical parodies composed and produced by Katie Thompson.