Sex is supposed to be fun and feel good. So why are pain, low desire and changes in arousal so often treated as something women should simply live with?

Dr. Poynor is joined by urologist and sexual medicine specialist Dr. Rachel Rubin for a candid, joyful conversation about women’s sexual health. They unpack what’s behind common sexual concerns, available treatments, and why these issues deserve the same curiosity and care as any other part of our health. Along the way, Dr. Rubin makes the case for talking about sex more openly – and for expecting more from the care we receive.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

For more information on the treatment options for vulvar pain: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/10.1097/aog.0000000000001645~committee-opinion-no-673-persistent-vulvar-pain

The American Urological Association’s clinical guideline on genitourinary syndrome of menopause: https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/genitourinary-syndrome-of-menopause

Dr. Rubin offers continuing medical education courses for clinicians, as well as free educational sexual health resources: https://www.rachelrubinmd.com/education

Learn more about Dr. Rubin’s Sexual Medicine Research Team: https://www.rachelrubinmd.com/research

Read the FDA’s update on estradiol transdermal patch availability: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fda-update-estradiol-transdermal-patch-availability

Research on erectile dysfunction and its relationship to cardiovascular health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353735/

Research on hormonal contraception and sexual function: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609515312881

More information on the FDA approval of flibanserin for hypoactive sexual desire in postmenopausal women: https://www.urologytimes.com/view/fda-approves-flibanserin-for-hypoactive-sexual-desire-disorder-in-postmenopausal-women

Information about testosterone treatment available for women in New Zealand: https://www.androfeme.nz/

Research on vibrator use among women: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19453881/

Prosayla, a resource from the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), can help you find clinicians who specialize in women’s sexual health: prosayla.com

Dr. Rachel Rubin website: https://www.rachelrubinmd.com/

Dr. Rachel Rubin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrRachelRubin

Dr. Rachel Rubin LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-rubin-7433b0134/

Dr. Rachel Rubin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrachelrubin

Dr. Rachel Rubin newsletter: https://www.rachelrubinmd.com/newsletter

Dr. Elizabeth Poynor substack: https://poynorhealth.substack.com/

Dr. Elizabeth Poynor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poynorhealth

Atria Health Library: content.atria.org

Note: In this show, we use “women” as shorthand for people with XX chromosomes. We understand sex and gender are more complex, and acknowledge the experiences we describe reach beyond that word.

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