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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can the research behind intermittent fasting help us rethink the way we approach our nutrition and our daily habits? Dr. Chris Rhodes has spent much of his career studying the science of fasting. He joins the show to unpack how fasting works in the body and what the research tells us about its potential benefits.

Dr. Rhodes earned his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry at UC Davis and is also the co-founder of Mimio. We discuss why someone might try intermittent fasting - from longevity to weight loss - as well as the importance of strength training and personalized nutrition.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

For more studies on autophagy, check out: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/JP287938

and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41372565/

Here's a meta-analysis looking at the effects of time restricted eating: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41586347/

Note: the glycine data we mention is only in mice: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6516426/

Important caveat for this episode: the evidence is strongest in animal studies and human markers of aging. No intermittent fasting regimen has been shown to extend human lifespan or reduce mortality in humans.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can you do to make the most of your annual medical visit? Dr. Poynor is joined by Dr. Jennifer McGugins Hill, an internal medicine specialist at the Atria Health and Research Institute, to discuss how preventive care can help identify health concerns early. Plus, we unpack which labs and screenings are worth discussing with your primary care physician, why it's important to know your calcium score, and how to advocate for the care you need.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Boston Heart Diagnostics offers specialty labs that your doctor can order for you, usually at a cost. They are not available as direct to consumer products, so if you're interested in them, talk with your care team. https://bostonheartdiagnostics.com/

For expert advice on how to properly log your blood pressure at home, please see this helpful article: https://content.atria.org/article/blood-pressure-cuffs-for-home-monitoring/

You can see the product she mentions here (no affiliate link): https://omronhealthcare.com/blood-pressure-monitors

An ECG or EKG stands for an electrocardiogram, which is a quick, safe, and painless medical test that records the electrical activity of your heart.

DEXA stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. It is an imaging test that uses low-dose X-rays to measure bone mineral density and body composition. They can be ordered by a physician in an academic medicine system and are also offered at standalone centers.

Cologuard is a stool test that looks for existing cancer. Colonoscopies look for cancer as well as polyps, which can be pre-cancerous and are removed during the colonoscopy procedure.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many women are turning to cannabis to help with sleep, anxiety, chronic pain, and other major health concerns. But figuring out what actually works for your individual needs can be surprisingly complicated.

Dr. Poynor speaks with neuroscientist and world-renowned medical cannabis expert Dr. Staci Ann Gruber about the science behind THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. Together, they break down the potential benefits of cannabis for women’s health, how to navigate different products safely, and best practices for first-time users.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) Program at McLean Hospital

Women’s Health Initiative at Mind (WHIM)

Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care Setting

The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research

Marijuana impacts mood in bipolar disorder: a pilot study

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to a woman's mental health when she experiences a major hormonal shift and what can she actually do about it? Dr. Ruta Nonacs is a reproductive psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. Her work sits at the intersection of hormonal health and women's mental well being.

We break down how changes across a woman's reproductive life—from PMS and PMDD to perimenopause and beyond—can affect mood, anxiety, and emotional health. Dr. Nonacs also walks us through treatment options, and when to seek help.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Ruta Nonacs: https://researchers.mgh.harvard.edu/profile/14143654/Ruta-Nonacs

So Glad You Asked with Dr. Ruta Nonacs and Allie Hales: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-glad-you-asked-with-dr-ruta-nonacs-and-allie-hales/id1802653992

Essential Reads: Ovarian Suppression for the Treatment of Severe PMDD: https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/essential-reads-ovarian-suppression-for-the-treatment-of-severe-pmdd/

Chasteberry: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/chasteberry

Co-administration of St. John's wort and hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review: https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(16)30164-0/abstract

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Poynor answers listener questions about HPV, UTIs, hormone support, self breast exams, pelvic floor therapy, and GLP-1s. Plus we address several questions about the condition, PCOS, recently renamed PMOS. Joining Dr. Poynor for this discussion is Atria Health Institute’s Chief Content Officer Siobhan O’Connor.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

HPV Vaccination: https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccines/index.html

Women’s Perspective on Self-Breast Examination https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11069221/

Decoding Dementia Prevention with Dr. Richard Isaacson: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/decoding-womens-health-with-dr-elizabeth-poynor/decoding-dementia-prevention-with-dr-richard-isaacson

The Tyrer-Cuzick Model: Understanding the Assessment and Your Breast Cancer Risk: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/blog/tyrer-cuzick-model/

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.