G-Chats With Giana Jarrah

Have you ever wondered why a UTI, bacterial vaginosis, or yeast infection seems to come back, even after taking the "right" medication? One possible piece of the puzzle is something called a biofilm. In this episode, we're diving into the fascinating world of biofilms: what they are, why bacteria and yeast build them, how microbes communicate through quorum sensing, and why these pro...

There are hundreds of products and home remedies marketed for vaginal and urinary health, but which ones actually deserve a spot in your routine? Today, we're playing "Yay, Nay, or It Depends?" and breaking down the science behind some of the most talked-about trends. My goal isn't to tell you what to buy, it's to help you understand the evidence so you can make informed deci...

This episode has absolutely nothing to do with who should couple up. Instead, we're discussing the questions I have about Love Island that nobody seems to be asking: How are they having their periods? Where are they pooping? Who is keeping everyone hair-free all summer? And how are they surviving those kissing challenges? Let's talk about it!

This Juneteenth, we're talking about a difficult but necessary topic: the legacy of racism in gynecology and women's healthcare. If all women experience medical misogyny, why do some women consistently experience worse outcomes than others? From the stories of Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey to modern maternal mortality disparities and Serena Williams' experience after childbirth, this episo...

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common vaginal conditions, yet it's still surrounded by confusion, stigma, and misinformation. In this episode, we're diving into the claim that BV is an STI, why that label isn't supported by what we currently know about the vaginal microbiome, and how sex absolutely can influence vaginal health without making BV a sexually transmitted infection....

In this episode, I'm reacting to viral TikTok feminine hygiene routines and discussing something I see far too often: fear of bacteria. Somewhere along the way, we've been taught that every smell, every discharge, every skin texture, and every microbe is a problem that needs to be scrubbed, disinfected, or eliminated. The result? Many people are using increasingly harsh products in pursuit of bein...

This episode is probably one of the most personal episodes I’ve ever recorded. We’re talking about the REAL reason I created Barrier Bar, the science behind why the feminine hygiene industry has failed women for decades, the difference between vulvar and vaginal care, and why I believe women deserve something more nuanced than “harsh cleansing” versus “just use water.”I also talk about the emotion...

In this episode, I break down The Guardian’s recent article on vaginal probiotics paragraph by paragraph as a biomedical engineer who studies female reproductive health and someone who actively critiques shame-based wellness marketing while ALSO recognizing that vaginal dysbiosis, recurrent BV, recurrent UTIs, and asymptomatic imbalance are very real. We discuss:• why wellness culture deserves cri...

The feminine hygiene aisle didn’t just appear overnight and it definitely wasn’t built around what the female body actually needs. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real history behind it, from early marketing rooted in “female weakness” and odor control to the normalization of douching and the creation of an entire category designed to make women feel like their bodies were a problem to fix....

I genuinely think vaginal microbiome testing is one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s health right now. People are opening these reports, seeing percentages and bacteria names they can’t pronounce, and immediately spiraling. So as your biomedical engineering big sister who studies female reproductive health, I made an entire episode teaching you how to actually read your microbiome test r...

Most of what you were taught about your body wasn’t designed to empower you...it was designed to control you. From “stay fresh” to “don’t smell” to silence around discharge, pain, and infections, women’s health has been built on shame instead of science. And that doesn’t just exist culturally, it shows up in medicine too. In this episode, I’m unpacking how that conditioning starts, how it’s reinfo...

Fertility is constantly reduced to ovulation, timing sex, and tracking your cycle but that is only a small piece of what is actually happening in the body. In this episode, we break down the real biology behind your fertility journey, including the hormonal signaling that regulates ovulation, the role of the vaginal microbiome in implantation, how your gut influences estrogen metabolism, and why c...

In 2026, we finally mapped the full clitoral nerve network. An organ that exists in over half the population. An organ that is central to sensation and function. An organ that, until now, we didn’t fully understand. And the immediate response I’ve been seeing is: “well, the female body is more complex.” But that’s exactly the point. The female body is complex: hormonally, immunologically, anatomic...

We were taught to call everything “the vagina”… and that’s exactly where the confusion starts. In this episode, we’re breaking down the vulva, what each part actually does, and why the skin in this area is fundamentally different from the rest of your body. Because you can’t care for something you were never properly taught to understand. Plus, we are launch something soon! Watch the full video to...

Mycoplasma is one of the most misunderstood topics in vaginal health. Not all mycoplasma are the same, and not everything that shows up on a test needs to be treated. In this episode, I break down the difference between Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium, why one can show up with BV while the other is considered an STI, and how to actually think about infections versus imbalances. If you...

Ureaplasma is one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health right now. It’s not a classic STI. It’s not always harmful. And testing positive does not automatically mean you have an infection. Ureaplasma is actually considered a commensal organism, meaning it can exist in the body without causing harm. Many people have it and never experience symptoms. But like many microbes in the vaginal...

Season 2 of G Chats with Giana is officially back. Today we’re answering your questions about recurrent infections, the vaginal microbiome, hormones, stress, gynecology education, and some of the biggest myths women are taught about their bodies. If you have a question you want covered in a future episode, leave it below. Free Stock Footage by Vecteezy.com

Season 1 Finale | The Women Who Changed Reproductive Health Behind every major breakthrough in reproductive health, there’s a woman often uncredited, overlooked, or deliberately erased. In this powerful season finale, I spotlight the forgotten pioneers, modern-day innovators, and brilliant women of color who’ve shaped our understanding of the female body against all odds. You’ll hear about:-The ph...

In this episode, I’m diving into the feminine hygiene aisle to break down what these products are really doing to our bodies. From Summer’s Eve washes, deodorant sprays, and wipes to Vagisil anti-itch creams, powders, and even bloating relief pills, I’m sharing the hard truth about what’s marketed to us as “feminine care.” These products often use phrases like “pH balanced,” “gynecologist tested,”...

📚 Cited Studies & Data SourcesMaternal Mortality Rates-Black women are 3–4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Source: CDC Reproductive Health Report, 2020Hypertension and Heart Disease-Black women have the highest rates of high blood pressure among all groups in the U.S.Source: American Heart Association (Go Red for Women, 2018)Pain Bias in Medicine-Half of wh...

You’ve heard of STDs. Then we started saying STIs. But what about BV? UTIs? Yeast? Are they even sexually transmitted? In this episode, we break down exactly what makes an infection sexually transmitted vs. something your body develops on its own plus why the cervix is the real target for most STIs, not the vagina.

Most people have no idea what Ureaplasma or Mycoplasma even are, let alone how they’re connected to persistent BV, chronic UTIs, infertility, and pelvic pain. Here’s the truth:🦠 These bacteria don’t have a cell wall which means most antibiotics don’t work.⚠️ They’re commensal, opportunistic and sexually transmitted.🧬 They form biofilms that make them nearly impossible to kill without the right a...

Everyone’s talking about bikini bodies... I’m talking about vaginal and urinary microbiomes. Picture this: You’re on Love Island. You’re sweating 24/7, doing messy challenges, practically living in a thong bikini, sitting in chlorine, and sleeping in wet swimsuits. Sounds like paradise... until you think about your vaginal health. This week’s episode is your real summer survival guide, not the gim...

From anti–Pap smear rhetoric to AI apps creating fake doctors, the misinformation online is getting weird and it’s time we talk about it. In this episode, we break down viral TikToks and trending topics that are spreading false or misleading health claims. Some of it may be unintentional, but that’s exactly why these conversations are so important. Don’t forget to like, comment, and follow our pod...

Let’s play “ask me anything” — vaginal health edition 💅🏽I’m answering questions from you! We will chat about:✦ Can sugar cause yeast infections?✦ Why do I get BV after sex?✦ Should I take probiotics with antibiotics?✦ Can my partner be giving it to me?✦ Is boric acid safe to use long term?✦ Do probiotics actually reach the vagina?✦ And sooo much more. Because getting recurring infections doesn’t...