My Road to 70 conversation with Dr. Margaret Nachtigall is the straight talk every woman deserves.

If you’ve been quietly putting up with vaginal dryness, irritation, burning, painful sex, or more UTIs and telling yourself, “Well… this is just what happens after 60,” I want you to stop right there.

Not because these changes aren’t common—they are.

But because so many of them are treatable, and your comfort, confidence, and quality of life matter.

In this episode of my Road to 70 mini-series, I’m talking about a topic that so many women deal with—but far too many of us suffer through in silence: vaginal health after 60.

My guest is my go-to expert on menopause and vaginal health, Dr. Margaret Nachtigall, and this conversation is exactly the kind of straight talk I wish every woman got earlier. We get into what changes are common after menopause, what symptoms should never be ignored, what to ask your doctor, and what treatments can actually help—whether you’re dealing with vaginal dryness, irritation, urinary symptoms, or painful sex.

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe this is just part of getting older,” this episode is for you. Dr. Nachtigall makes it clear: you do not have to just live with it.

In this episode, we cover:

• What’s normal (and what’s not) when it comes to vaginal health after menopause
• The most common symptoms in your 60s, including dryness, burning, irritation, and urinary changes
• Why women should not be embarrassed to bring up symptoms with their doctor
• The importance of regular exams and testing, including pelvic exams and HPV screening when appropriate
• Hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options, including local estrogen
• How vaginal health and urinary symptoms/UTIs are often connected
• When pelvic floor therapy can help
• How lifestyle choices (including exercise and smoking) affect vaginal and sexual health
• How to protect intimacy and maintain a healthy sex life after menopause
• Why it’s never too late to start treatment and feel better

Watch now:

Dr. Nachtigall also shares practical, reassuring advice on speaking up, getting answers, and making sure your concerns are taken seriously—because this is a quality-of-life issue, and it matters.

If this episode helps you, please share it with a friend. So many women need this information.

And if you haven’t already, subscribe to my newsletter, Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack, where I share smart, science-backed tips to help you age better, stronger, and with more confidence.