Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaya Taghechian
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a surgeon. But not just any surgeon—I wanted to challenge the norm, to step into spaces where I wasn’t expected and absolutely own them. Enter: Urology.
Even today, urology remains a male-dominated field. Only about 11% of urologists are women, which I still find fascinating. Female physicians are no longer a novelty in medicine or surgery, yet somehow, urology has resisted this shift. Why? Do people assume urology is just for male patients? Because that’s absolutely not the case. Urology deals with the entire genitourinary system, regardless of gender. As a urologist, I don’t just treat erectile dysfunction—I also treat urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, recurrent UTIs, kidney stones, and cancers of the bladder and kidney, all of which affect both men and women.
And yet, female patients often struggle to find a female urologist. Personally, when I see a gynecologist, I prefer a female physician. I know I’m not alone in that. So if women need a urologist, wouldn’t many prefer a female one? Given how few of us there are, that’s often not an option.
Over my 19 years in urology, one issue became impossible to ignore: women’s sexual health is being neglected. For men, we have an entire arsenal of treatments—medications, injections, surgeries. Medicare will even fully cover a penile implant. But when a woman tells her doctor she’s experiencing vaginal pain, difficulty with orgasm, or other sexual concerns, she’s often met with silence. If she brings it up to her gynecologist, she’s dismissed: That’s just aging. If she’s past a certain age, she may not even have a gynecologist anymore because she was told she no longer needs one after her last Pap smear. And if she turns to a urologist? Well, most are focused solely on the male sex organ.
So where are these women supposed to go? Even if they’re brave enough to voice their concerns, there’s no one listening. No one offering solutions. It’s absolutely insane.
At a certain point, I’d had enough. If no one else was going to address this, I was. And that’s how Aayla was born.
Aayla is dedicated to women’s sexual health and intimate aesthetics. Who better to address these concerns than a urologist? We work with the female pelvis daily, we operate vaginally, we understand this anatomy inside and out. I just needed to take it a step further—to seek out specialized training in treatments for women’s sexual concerns. I connected with like-minded physicians worldwide, and together, we’re developing evidence-based solutions to finally give women real options.
At Aayla, my goal is simple: to create a space where women feel heard, understood, and supported. No judgment. No dismissive this is just how it is nonsense. Just real solutions for real concerns. Because women’s sexual health matters. And it’s about damn time we start acting like it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is a series of challenges, isn’t it? I’ve faced my share—both personally and professionally—but every struggle has shaped me into the person I am today. While there are some hardships I’d gladly erase, most, I’d willingly endure again if they led me to where I am now.
I come from an immigrant family. We started from nothing—literally not a penny to our name—armed only with the unwavering strength of a mother who was determined that her two daughters would succeed, become independent, find happiness, and leave a lasting, positive impact on the world. That foundation of resilience carried me through everything that came next: from living in a single rented room to learning an entirely new language and culture, leaving behind most of my family, and facing the inevitable bullying that comes with being “different.”
And then came the relentless pursuit of my dream—years of grueling university coursework, medical school, board exams, surgical residency, and the cutthroat reality of proving myself in a male-dominated field. I sacrificed my twenties to sleepless nights in the hospital, barely aware of the life I was missing outside those walls. Breaking into urology as a female surgeon was another battle—finding a practice that was willing to take a chance on me, pushing past skepticism, and proving that I belonged.
Then, life layered on new challenges—starting a family, balancing the deep love I have for my children with the demands of a profession that never truly stops. The constant pull between being a mother, a wife, a daughter, a surgeon, an entrepreneur—while trying not to lose myself in the process. And when I decided to take a leap and champion women’s sexual health—a field often dismissed or overlooked—I had to convince my colleagues that this was more than just a niche; it was a necessity. I had to prove that a practice dedicated to women’s wellness could not only survive but thrive because women everywhere are searching for a voice, an advocate, real solutions instead of empty promises.
Building Aayla Sexual Wellness and Aesthetics has been another journey entirely—navigating a landscape filled with misinformation, making sure women get the care they deserve, learning and mastering treatments that were never part of my residency training. And let’s not forget learning to stand up, speak out, and take the stage—because if I want to make a difference, I need to be heard.
Has it been smooth? Not for a second. But I wouldn’t trade it. Every obstacle has led me here, and right now, I’m loving the ride. My mission is simple: to take everything I’ve learned and spread that knowledge to as many women as possible. Because we all deserve to be heard. We all deserve to thrive. And I’m just getting started.
We’ve been impressed with Aayla Sexual Wellness and Intimate Aesthetics, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aayla Sexual Wellness and Intimate Aesthetics is a women’s sexual health practice built on trust, expertise, and a deep understanding of what women need but rarely feel comfortable asking for. I know how hard it can be to talk about intimate concerns—how often women are dismissed or made to feel like they just have to “deal with it.” That’s not how it should be. Every woman deserves to feel heard, understood, and empowered with real solutions.
At Aayla, I help women navigate everything from peri- and post-menopausal changes to low libido, difficulty achieving orgasm, painful sex, vaginal dryness, incontinence, and vaginal laxity. I also specialize in cosmetic gynecology—because for many women, a “mommy makeover” shouldn’t stop at the waistline. Whether it’s addressing discomfort from elongated labia minora or enhancing the appearance of the vulva, these concerns are real, and they deserve expert care.
What sets Aayla apart is that we do everything with both function and aesthetics in mind. I’m a surgeon who won’t let my patients end up on Botched!—because this field requires both technical precision and an intimate understanding of how the vulva and vagina actually function. Labiaplasties, clitoral hood reductions—these are not just cosmetic procedures. If done incorrectly, they can lead to lifelong complications. That’s why it’s so important to find a cosmetic gynecologist who understands both the surgical artistry and the intricate anatomy. And trust me, that combination is rare.
I’ve traveled the world, learning from the best in the field, continuously refining techniques to ensure my patients receive the safest, most effective, and most natural-looking results. I also offer restorative, FDA-approved vaginal treatments like FormaV, Morpheus 8V, and V-Tone, enhanced with cutting-edge adjuncts like Exosomes and CO2 V-Lift. In addition, I provide gentle, vetted vaginal skincare products and supplements that have made a real difference for my patients over the years.
But more than anything, Aayla is a place where women can finally talk openly—without embarrassment, without judgment. My team and I pride ourselves on being compassionate listeners, giving women the space to share their most intimate concerns and, most importantly, validating those concerns. Too often, women are told their symptoms are “just part of aging” or that “it’s all in their head.” Not here.
At Aayla, we put the power back in your hands. Whether you’re looking for relief, restoration, or just a safe place to start the conversation, we’re here for you. Because every woman deserves to feel confident, comfortable, and completely at home in her own body.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Happiness comes in a lot of different forms for me—some big, some small, but all equally important. Professionally, there’s nothing better than helping a patient feel comfortable and pain-free in their own body. Seeing someone walk into my office carrying a burden they’ve struggled with for years and then watching the relief on their face when they realize there’s a real solution—that never gets old. Helping women feel good about themselves, confident, and happy in their own skin makes my job incredibly fulfilling.
In my personal life, it’s all about my family. I love spending time with my kids—snuggling up with them, telling jokes, playing games, just being goofy together.
We all have the travel bug, so we’re always planning our next trip, whether it’s a laid-back beach vacation or an adventure somewhere completely new. There’s just something about exploring a new place as a family that makes us all feel alive.
And then, there are the simple little things that bring me happiness, like puzzles. I always have one set up at home, and there’s something really satisfying about slowly piecing it together. It’s even better when my kids join in, even if they end up “helping” by putting pieces in the wrong spots.
For me, happiness isn’t just about the big, exciting moments—it’s about finding joy in the everyday things. Whether it’s making a patient’s day a little better, laughing with my kids, traveling, or just enjoying a quiet night working on a puzzle, I try to soak it all in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Aayla.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaya.t/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555908651617
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@aayla-atlanta?si=xl6OiCMyloaQeyCc
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@aayla.intimate.wellness?_t=ZT-8su1ylHlM2V&_r=1
