STIMULATE continues to celebrate 21 Trailblazing Female Founders in honor of International Women’s Day – which was March 8th – and looks forward to welcoming them to the 2025 STIMULATE Trade Show + Conference in Nashville this August. Among those being celebrated includes Michelle Pearlman M.D., who is the CEO & Co-founder Prime Institute and ByteMD as well as a Physician Nutrition Specialist, Gastroenterologist and Obesity Medicine Specialist.
As a board-certified gastroenterologist, she understands the importance of gut health as it pertains to dietary habits and maintaining a healthy weight – as well as head to toe, total lifestyle. She uses a “food is medicine” approach with all of her patients and together with her twin sister, Board Certified Urologist Dr. Amy Pearlman, founded Coral Gables, FL, based Prime Institute. Join us in celebrating Dr. Michelle Pearlman as a Trailblazing Female Founder.
Q: Every story has its own beginning. How did your journey bring you to this vast and wonderful world of sexual health and wellness?
Dr. Pearlman: Oh, honey, let’s get real—what happens in your gut doesn’t stay in your gut. As a gastroenterologist, I see firsthand how digestion, inflammation, and hormones are all interconnected, and let’s just say, when your gut isn’t happy, neither is your libido. My journey started with a passion for optimizing health through nutrition and weight management, but I quickly realized that people aren’t just trying to fit into their jeans—they want to feel good. Confidence, vitality, and, yes, sexual wellness, all start from the inside out. So here I am, bringing science, sass, and a no-nonsense approach to help people fuel their bodies, balance their hormones, and feel their absolute best—in every aspect of life.
Q: Being an entrepreneur certainly has highs and lows, but the drive to keep pushing through is what keeps so many entrepreneurs motivated. What drive keeps you inspired on your professional journey?
Dr. Pearlman: Seeing my patients walk into my office with more confidence, more energy, and—let’s be honest—a little extra swagger. When people take control of their health, everything changes. They’re standing taller, feeling stronger, and suddenly realizing that they don’t have to just “accept” fatigue, weight gain, bloating, or a tanked sex drive as a normal part of life. That transformation is what keeps me pushing forward. Also, I’m a little competitive—nothing motivates me like proving that real, sustainable health isn’t about fads, quick fixes, or magic pills. It’s about science, strategy, and a little bit of sweat equity.
Q: When it comes to the business of sexual wellness specifically, what do you hope to achieve in the year ahead in your own business?
Dr. Pearlman: I want to completely disrupt the outdated, one-size-fits-all approach to sexual wellness and hormone health. In the year ahead, I’m focused on expanding access to real education around gut health, metabolism, and the role of inflammation in everything from low energy to low libido. I want people to stop throwing random supplements at the problem and start understanding the science behind why they feel the way they do. My goal? To help people optimize their gut, manage their weight in a sane way, and get their hormones dialed in so they can show up as their strongest, most confident selves. Because let’s be real—when you feel good, you look good, and when you look good, you know what happens next.
Q: There is so much variety and range within the wide range of sexual wellness. Here at STIMULATE, we define this as “head to toe, young to mature, purpose to pleasure”. How do you define sexual wellness?
Sexual wellness is so much bigger than what happens in the bedroom—it’s about how you feel in your own skin every day. It’s confidence. It’s energy. It’s knowing that your body is working for you, not against you. As a gastroenterologist, I see how gut health, inflammation, and metabolic function impact everything from libido to hormone regulation. If your gut is a mess, your mood is a mess, your hormones are a mess, and guess what? Your sexual wellness takes a hit. So to me, sexual wellness isn’t just about pleasure—it’s about function. It’s about feeling strong, vibrant, and unapologetically alive.
Q: If you could hope for one thing to change when it comes to sexual health and wellness for the next generation of professionals, what would that be and why?
Dr. Pearlman: I want the next generation of health professionals to stop treating sexual health like it’s some awkward, taboo subject. Your libido isn’t just about hormones—it’s a reflection of your overall health. If someone is struggling with low energy, poor digestion, and stubborn weight gain, guess what? Their sex drive is probably in the gutter too. We need more professionals who understand the full-body connection—how gut health, weight management, and inflammation directly impact confidence, intimacy, and overall well-being. It’s not just about prescribing testosterone or estrogen and calling it a day. It’s about getting to the root cause and helping people feel strong, sexy, and fully present in their own bodies.
Q: What’s the biggest myth about gut health and sexual wellness that you want to bust?
Dr. Pearlman: That it’s all about hormones or aging. Nope! Your gut plays a massive role in how you feel, and if your digestion is off, you’re dealing with chronic bloating, or your metabolism is sluggish, of course your libido is going to take a hit. Your gut bacteria produce neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine—aka your feel-good, mood-boosting chemicals. If your microbiome is out of whack, it can throw off everything from stress to hormone balance to, yes, sexual function. Fix your gut, reduce inflammation, and suddenly you’re feeling lighter, more energized, and way more in tune with your body.
Q: Finally, what’s your best piece of advice for aspiring leaders within this community?
Dr. Pearlman: Own your expertise, but don’t be afraid to challenge outdated thinking. The world of sexual wellness, weight management, and gut health is evolving, and the next generation of leaders needs to bring fresh perspectives, real science, and better solutions to the table. Be relentless in your pursuit of knowledge. And above all—don’t let the noise of quick-fix culture distract you. Real health isn’t about gimmicks or band-aid solutions; it’s about consistency, strategy, and understanding how all the puzzle pieces fit together. Stand firm in what you know, educate with confidence, and never stop pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
We could not agree more with Dr. Pearlman to “never stop pushing the boundaries of what’s possible”. Spoken like the true Trailblazing Female Founder that she is!
We look forward to welcoming Dr. Pearlman to our August 4+5, 2025, STIMULATE flagship experience. Join us, as well, by securing your spot now.
Secure your spot at STIMULATE taking place August 4+5, 2025, in Nashville here.
