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Episode description

Yulia Mintchin, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur and creator of FemGene, reveals why perimenopause is an epigenetic reprogramming event — not just a hormone dip — and how genetic testing can predict your symptoms and HRT response before a single prescription is written

Key topics discussed

• Perimenopause as a communication breakdown between genes and hormones
• Why women were excluded from medical research and what that means today
• Hormone genomics and hormone genetics — a new medical category
• The three hormonal archetypes: Sensitive, Silent and Resilient
• The COMT gene variant and oestrogen clearance, affecting around 20% of the population
• Why HRT fails for 40% of women — and how FemGene aims to fix that
• Hormone metabolites vs hormone levels: the missing safety step
• Bioidentical vs synthetic oestrogen — the cherry Haribo analogy
• Endometriosis case study: progesterone and halted progression
• Oncology’s shifting stance on HRT and oestrogen during cancer treatment
• The WHI study and tamoxifen: historical context

Timestamps

00:00 Why perimenopause may be about genetic response, not just hormone decline
01:00 Meet Yulia Mintchin and the FemGene thesis
03:10 Why perimenopause is medicine’s biggest blind spot
05:05 Hormone genomics and hormone genetics explained
14:15 The three hormonal archetypes: Sensitive, Silent and Resilient
23:05 Why doubling HRT doses can backfire
24:10 COMT, oestrogen clearance and personalisation
31:40 When women should start testing
33:20 Endometriosis case study: progesterone and progression
37:20 How archetypes change HRT decisions
41:05 What the FemGene process looks like
45:00 Bioidentical vs synthetic oestrogen
51:20 Red flags that HRT is being managed poorly
56:05 Oncology, HRT and shifting views on oestrogen
58:10 Outro and disclaimer

References and resources mentioned

• FemGene hormone genomic test — via Will Be: https://www.mywillbe.co.uk/
  
  
• The WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) study — landmark trial that shaped HRT policy
• Biohacking Eve episode with Jennifer Garrison, referenced as approximately Episode 1, on hormonal changes affecting 80% of body systems
• COMT gene and oestrogen metabolism — widely studied SNP; Yulia references the slow COMT variant
• Tamoxifen and breast cancer treatment — historical context discussed

Guest social links

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yulia.mintchin/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuliamintchin/
• Will Be website: https://www.mywillbe.co.uk/

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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A Neuroscientific Approach to Menstrual Wellness with Dr Emile Radyte: Exploring Brain-Based Pain and Mood Therapies

In this episode, we welcome Dr Emile Radyte, a Harvard and Oxford-trained neuroscientist specialising in how the brain influences menstrual mood and pain

Dr Radyte discusses her extensive background, including her leadership at Harvard’s emergency medical service and the founding of Lithuania’s largest neuroscience NGO. She is the co-founder of a neuroscience company focused on a brain-first approach to menstrual wellness. The conversation dives deep into the neuroscience behind menstrual pain and mood, explaining how brain circuits, rather than just hormones, regulate these experiences

Dr Radyte elaborates on the innovative non-invasive brain stimulation techniques her team is developing to provide pain relief and mood stabilisation for women with conditions such as PMS, PMDD and endometriosis. She also shares insights on the interplay between hormones, neuroplasticity and brain circuits, as well as ongoing clinical trials and the personalisation of therapeutic protocols for different conditions

Throughout the episode, she highlights the crucial role of self-tracking and personal responsibility in women’s health optimisation

Timestamp

00:00 Introduction and guest welcome
01:05 Understanding the brain-first approach to menstrual health
02:57 Brain circuits and emotional regulation
06:54 Pain perception and sensitivity
09:19 PMS vs PMDD: clinical definitions and differences
12:54 Brain stimulation: a new approach to menstrual health
29:14 Devices and technology for menstrual wellness
35:50 Understanding women’s symptoms and tracking
37:32 Common user mistakes and how to avoid them
41:06 Clinical trials and research initiatives
50:33 User experience with the devices
01:00:43 Curveball questions and personal insights

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. Samphire Neurotechnology

• Samphire is a neurotechnology company focused on women’s brain health, particularly hormonal-cycle related symptoms such as:
  • PMS
  • PMDD
  • Menstrual migraines
  • Brain fog
  • Mood and cognitive disruption linked to hormonal changes
• The technology discussed is non-invasive neuromodulation, designed as a drug-free alternative for managing symptoms.

2. Neuroscience & Hormonal Health

• Discussion around how hormonal fluctuations impact the brain, not just reproductive organs.
• Emphasis on the lack of research funding and innovation in women’s neurological health.
• The gap between male-centric medical research models and women’s lived neurological experiences.
  
  

3. Clinical & Regulatory Context

• Samphire’s work within regulated medical frameworks.
• Importance of clinical validation, safety, and evidence-based design for women’s health technology.
• Barriers women face accessing care for cycle-linked neurological symptoms.

4. Lived Experience & Advocacy

• Emile shares the personal motivation behind building Samphire.
• Reframing “normal” suffering around periods and hormones.
• Advocating for women to expect better solutions, not just coping strategies.
  
  
  

Social Media Links

Samphire Website: https://url-shortener.me/4QQW
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eradyte/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/radytee/?hl=

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com

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Navigating the world of assisted reproduction with Mary Fusillo

In this episode, we speak with Mary Fusillo, a practitioner in assisted reproduction for over 25 years. Mary shares insights on her company, Family Solutions International, which provides egg donation, surrogacy, and fertility consulting. She contrasts US and European practice, particularly around donor compensation, and details the screening and selection of egg donors. We examine financial, logistical, and emotional aspects of egg donation and surrogacy, including cost breakdowns, roles and expectations for surrogates and intended parents, and ethical questions around donor anonymity. Mary also highlights psychological impacts and common challenges for all involved. This episode gives a comprehensive look at the complexities, joys, and ethical considerations of assisted reproduction

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and guest introduction
00:08 Mary’s background and career in assisted reproduction
00:52 Focus on egg donors and surrogacy
01:17 The egg donor process in the US
01:38 Compensation and selection of egg donors
03:41 Fresh vs frozen eggs
04:59 Costs and European perspective
06:11 Ethics and anonymity in egg donation
08:54 Logistics and travel for egg donation
16:03 Progesterone support in early pregnancy
21:03 Donor-egg cycle timeline
22:44 Age and ethics in donor-egg usage
25:46 Reasons for choosing donor eggs
28:09 Attachment to DNA and family
30:23 Introduction to surrogacy
33:11 Cost of donor-egg surrogacy
34:26 Typical surrogate profile
36:05 Surrogate relationships and dynamics
43:00 Cross-border surrogacy trends
47:49 Single men and surrogacy
50:23 Genetic testing and embryo screening
53:39 Ethics of telling children about their origins
56:33 Regrets and relief in egg donation and surrogacy
01:00:04 Final thoughts on third-party parenting

Social Media Links

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/familysolutionsinternational/

https://www.facebook.com/DonorSolutionDotCom/

Instagram:

@the_eggsplanation_pod

@familysolutionsinternational

@donorsolution

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

1. Egg Donation & Surrogacy Pathways

• Egg Donation – Discussed as a family-building option for individuals and couples facing infertility, genetic conditions, or age-related fertility decline.
• Gestational Surrogacy – Explained as a process where the surrogate carries a pregnancy but has no genetic link to the baby.
• Key Distinction Covered:
  • Traditional vs gestational surrogacy
  • Donor eggs vs intended mother’s eggs
    
    

2. Legal & Ethical Considerations

• Importance of legal contracts for:
  • Egg donors
  • Surrogates
  • Intended parents
• Discussion of cross-border surrogacy risks
• Emphasis on using licensed agencies and fertility clinics
• Consent, autonomy, and long-term wellbeing of all parties involved

3. Medical & Screening Processes

• Psychological screening for donors and surrogates
• Medical testing and fertility screening
• Hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval (egg donation)
• IVF processes involved in surrogacy journeys

4. Emotional & Human Aspects

• Emotional readiness of intended parents
• The lived experience of donors and surrogates
• Importance of counselling and emotional support throughout the journey
• Reframing stigma around non-traditional family building

Insta/TikTok: @BiohackingEve
Website: www.BiohackingEve.com