HERvoice (HerMD)

How can you reclaim your pleasure?  This episode unpacks how somatic psychology works within sex therapy, sex positivity,  moving past sexual trauma, and more. 

Dr. Holly Richmond is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and certified sex therapist, and holds a Ph.D. in Somatic Psychology. Dr. Richmond is one of North America’s leading sex therapists, serving women, men, couples, and gender-diverse individuals with relationship and sexuality issues.

 Dr. Richmond works from a sex-positive approach, meaning: “all sex is good sex as long as it’s consensual and pleasurable" and is committed to helping her clients feel better—mind and body—not just behave differently.
 
Dr. Richmond's latest book is now available, Reclaiming Pleasure: A Sex Positive Guide for Moving Past Sexual Trauma and Living a Passionate Life

"This war on cancer that we have had for the last 50 years has made it such that we can now focus on all the repercussions of treatment because so many people are surviving for so much longer." 

All forms of cancer treatment have the potential to negatively affect physical sexual function in women, including sexual desire, arousal, and pain. Despite the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, survivors of cancer rarely receive the necessary information, support, or treatment for these conditions. This episode unpacks survivorship and sex, and why it is important to invest in this care. 

Liya Shuster-Bier is the founder and CEO of Alula, the first digital platform dedicated to helping cancer patients manage the symptoms and at-home care needs that cancer treatment brings. Liya knows firsthand that it takes more than chemo to get through a cancer diagnosis. As a two-time cancer survivor, Liya founded Alula to empower patients with the services and products she needed when she was undergoing treatment for a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Before founding Alula, Liya began her career in community development and impact investing, starting out on the corporate currency derivatives team at Goldman Sachs. She received her MBA in entrepreneurial management from The Wharton School and is a proud Dartmouth alum, native of Queens, NY, and immigrant from Baku. 

"Urinary incontinence affects 1 in 3 women." Although an extremely prevalent issue, many don’t realize that urinary incontinence, or the involuntary leakage of urine, is 100% treatable. 

This is part one of two pelvic floor episodes with The Origin Physical Therapist, Dr. Ashley Rawlins where we unpack pelvic floor basics and incontinence. Stay tuned for part two, where we discuss the pelvic floor and painful sex. 

Ashley Rawlins is a doctor of physical therapy. She has advanced certification in the treatment of Pelvic Health and Obstetric Health (CAPP-Pelvic, CAPP-OB). She specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions including pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy-related pain, postpartum recovery, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. She is a practicing clinician, educator, and author in the field of women's health physiotherapy.

Did you know 40% of us are not contracting our pelvic floor muscles properly? 

Tune in to part two of our pelvic floor episodes with The Origin Physical Therapist, Dr. Ashley Rawlins where we unpack pelvic floor health, pleasure (sexual dysfunction, improving arousal) and kegels, to learn more. 

Ashley Rawlins is a doctor of physical therapy. She has advanced certification in the treatment of Pelvic Health and Obstetric Health (CAPP-Pelvic, CAPP-OB). She specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions including pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, pregnancy-related pain, postpartum recovery, and bowel and bladder dysfunction. She is a practicing clinician, educator, and author in the field of women's health physiotherapy. 

"I challenge anyone who hasn't looked in the eyes of these women to try to make any rulings or judgments about their lives and to make decisions about their bodies."

Reproductive rights have been among the most contentious and volatile issues in the United States. In this episode, our founder, Dr. Somi Javaid sets the record straight on how the Roe v. Wade ruling will affect patients and providers across the country.  

Stay tuned for part two where we chat with our legal counsel on the broader implications of this ruling from a legal perspective. 

"All of us can become better informed and understand what are we entitled to and what we need. And if what we need isn't want we get how can we change that?"

Reproductive rights have been among the most contentious and volatile issues in the United States. In this episode, Delphine O'Rourke sets the record straight on the ruling from data privacy concerns to contraception access while highlighting the need for attention and change in the women's healthcare space nationwide. 

  
Delphine O'Rourke is a partner at Goodwin Law. She is an advocate for women’s health and wellness offering authoritative expertise in healthcare laws and regulations.

In addition to being a trusted and invaluable advisor for companies transforming the health and wellness industry, Ms. O’Rourke is an experienced health system leader and in-house counsel. She was Associate General Counsel of Ascension, one of the largest healthcare systems in the U.S., and bridges the traditional health system for her clients’ products, services, and investments.

Ms. O’Rourke serves on the boards of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association, The Forum of Executive Women, and The Foundation of The Forum of Executive Women. She is Vice-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Council of the American Health Law Association, member of CHIEF (a private network focused on connecting and supporting women leaders), healthcare expert for Endeavor (the world’s leading community of high-impact entrepreneurs) and Fellows Mentor for Summit Impact (a community-powered approach to scaling global impact).

"When you come from an approach of telehealth first, of digital-first, it's really what are the logistical challenges to reach those patients everywhere.... we're able to reach people in a way that traditional healthcare hasn't been able to. Through that we also know, for example, we have helped patients in 70% of counties that contain a healthcare provider shortage area. We also know that we've sent prescriptions to 99% of contraceptive deserts. So the possibilities when it comes to digital and delivery, really open up access to populations that have been underserved. "

In this episode, Favor's Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Stephanie Swartz explores the importance of access to affordable and convenient healthcare for women and people who menstruate in a post-Roe world. 

Favor, formally The Pill Club, combines telemedicine and direct-to-consumer pharmacy with the broadest insurance coverage in the space and has evolved from a single-point solution focused on birth control delivery & reproductive healthcare to a comprehensive digital health platform that seeks to address racial, socioeconomic and gender gaps in our current health system.

Stephanie Swartz is Favor’s Senior Director of Policy and Public Affairs, where she advocates for access to affordable, convenient, and high quality healthcare for women and people who menstruate. Previously, Stephanie worked in global public policy roles at Google and Uber, covering consumer protection topics ranging from privacy to safety. At Uber, she led efforts to publish the company’s first of its kind Safety Report, which detailed incidents including sexual assaults on the platform. Stephanie graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from California State University Long Beach and received an MPhil in International Relations from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. A native of Southern California, Stephanie currently lives in Washington, D.C. 

"What we are trying to do is reframe periods to be something that is powerful and something that is exciting to talk about at the same time."

Myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about periods feed into stigma which can be hugely damaging for menstruators around the world. On this episode of HerVoice, we sit down with Nadya Okamoto to discuss period poverty and the stigma around menstruation.

Nadya Okamoto is the co-Founder of August, a lifestyle period brand working to reimagine periods to be powerful. She is also the author of the book PERIOD POWER: a Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement, and founder and former Executive Director of the nonprofit organization, PERIOD. Outside of her work in the menstrual health space, Okamoto is also a mental health advocate and known as a Gen Z marketing expert. She recently graduated from Harvard College, class of 2021.

Her debut book, PERIOD POWER, published by Simon & Schuster in 2018,  made the Kirkus Reviews list for Best Young Adult Nonfiction that year. Nadya is also the former Chief Brand Officer and Board Member of JUV Consulting, a Generation Z marketing agency based in NYC. She has been recognized on the lists of Forbes 30 under 30, Bloomberg 50 “Ones to Watch” and People Magazine's Women Changing the World.


HerMD recognizes that sex and gender exist on spectrums and that our patients have diverse gender identities. In some instances, HerMD uses the word "woman" (and the pronouns "she" and "her") to describe patients or individuals whose sex assigned at birth was female whether they identify as female, male, or non-binary. As gender language continues to evolve, we strive to include more inclusive language in our published content and within our clinics.

"People who are trauma survivors, their body has not been a safe place. It's not a safe place to land and then there's that disconnect between the body and mind."

On this episode of HerVoice, we sit down with Exhale to Inhale Instructor Ellyn Gerry to explore the mind-body connection and the healing power of trauma-informed yoga. 

Ellyn Gerry has over three decades of combined experience as a Labor and Delivery Nurse, Childbirth Educator and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. She is a highly regarded Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Teacher, and currently co-teaches the Prenatal Yoga Center’s Teacher Training with Deb Flashenberg. She has completed over 1000 hours of Yoga and Fitness training, including Pelvic Floor Yoga with Leslie Howard, Advanced Yoga TT with Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, Yin Yoga with Corina Benner, Trauma-Informed Yoga with Exhale to Inhale, Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman, and Baby and Me Yoga with Kidding Around Yoga. She is also certified in Yoga for Recovery from Eating Disorders with Chelsea Roff, Relax and Renew Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater and is a Level 3 Mindfulness MeditationTeacher with Cyndi Lee. Additionally, she is a Power Pilates Instructor, NASM Women’s Fitness Specialist, and Body Ready Method Pro. She is currently completing specialty training in Yoga for Female Health with a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. When she is not teaching or studying, she loves to swim with her two grandchildren. 

Could facilitating oral sex be the key to closing the orgasm gap? 

Despite consistently ranking oral sex being one of their favorite if not their favorite sexual activities and three times as likely to lead to orgasm when compared to penetration, 87% of women have turned down receiving oral sex for a number of reasons. 

On this episode of HerVoice, we sit down with Melanie Cristol, Founder, and CEO of Lorals. FDA-cleared, Lorals for Protection fit just like your favorite undies for safer and pleasurable oral sex.

Melanie is the founder and CEO of Brazen Goods Inc., a company that launches unique technologies to improve health, happiness, and personal relationships.

As founder of Brazen Goods and creator of the company’s product Lorals, Melanie has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fast Company, Cosmopolitan, and The American Lawyer, and she has been featured in various media outlets speaking about tech, manufacturing, and sexual health.

Melanie founded Brazen Goods after spending five years as an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, an international law firm. At O’Melveny & Myers, Melanie conducted internal investigations of multi-billion-dollar corporations (including a member of the Fortune 5), represented corporate executives in civil and criminal proceedings, and litigated mass actions on behalf of companies in the healthcare, consumer products, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. 

Melanie has also worked at MTV Networks, Lambda Legal, and the National LGBT Task Force. She attended school in New York City and graduated with honors from Columbia College and Columbia Law School.

"I almost became a statistic myself and I couldn't even believe it while it was happening. But maternal mortality doesn't just tell us the number of women dying in child birth...it also tells us how well a country's healthcare system is functioning. It tells us  the overall position of  women in society."

Anushay Hossain is a feminist journalist and political analyst whose work is featured on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and more. Her writings on politics, gender, and race are published on Forbes, CNN.com, The Daily Beast, and Medium. Last October (2021), Anushay published a book titled “The Pain Gap” an exploration of real women’s tales of healthcare trauma and medical misogyny with this meticulously researched, in-depth examination of the women’s health crisis in America—and what we can do about it. Meticulously researched and deeply reported, this book explores real women’s traumatic experiences with America’s healthcare system—and empowers everyone to use their experiences to bring about the healthcare revolution women need.

"Train for menopause like you're training for the marathon."

Routinely dismissed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is on a mission to empower women to live healthy, vital lives through comprehensive heart-centered prevention and wellness with her new app, Adesso.

What needs to happen to provide better care for people with endometriosis? A LOT. 

Shannon Cohn, Director of Below the Belt, shares her thoughts with Dr. Somi Javaid. 

Below the Belt is a captivating documentary that follows a diverse selection of people with endometriosis as they navigate their diagnosis, from personal symptoms and navigating their everyday lives to the impact on their relationships.

"With age comes wisdom, creativity, ingenuity, and lessons learned. There's so much for women as they transition into their menopause and beyond to contribute to the world.  And yet, we don't pay attention to them....women are saying we're no longer going to take this.  We're going to talk about this. This is no longer taboo...While healthcare is falling behind, women are really pushing the demand forward." 

Dr. Taniqua Miller, MD, is a dynamic speaker, board-certified OB/GYN, women’s health physician, empowerment coach, the founder of the educational platform TaniquaMD, and a midlife/menopause health expert committed to empowering women in their midlife journeys through education and community.

From a young age, Dr. Taniqua was committed to empowering women and girls through the pivotal transitions of puberty, pregnancy, and perimenopause. As a teenager, she witnessed her mother experience debilitating menopausal symptoms with little support from her healthcare providers. It was a theme she repeatedly saw as she cared for women in midlife: scant education, little support, and taboo discussions about a natural and powerful transition in the lives of her patients. These experiences led Dr. Taniqua to devote her life to studying women’s healthcare, advancing patient-centered empathic care, and building a world for all women to embrace boundless lives.

She trained in psychology at Yale University and earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical school before completing her residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Dr. Taniqua is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is recognized as a nationally certified menopause practitioner for the North American Menopause Society.

“If we know so much about the science of our skin. Why is there so much subjectivity around skincare?”  

Devanshi Garg Sareen is a skincare enthusiast, a 3x founder, and a mother. Hailing from New York City by way of Iran, India, the UK, New Zealand, and Germany, almost always an outsider, she learned early on to look at people through the lens of shared human experiences. After 10+ years working in technology services, Sareen worked as an innovation consultant in 2020 for Big Beauty, leading her to reflect on pain points with her own skincare journey and a desire to demand more from the modern brands we use. This eventually led her to launch Motif—a forward-thinking beauty brand that merges real science with customer-centric design—grounded in the desire to connect people through daily progress and growth.

"Every person's journey through menopause is very unique... listening and understanding the impact and level of distress for some of these conditions is really important." 

Virtual mental health counseling is now available at HerMD for California residents! 

Dr. Michael Krychman is HerMD's Chief Medical Officer in addition to a Board Certified OBGYN and an AASECT Certified Sexual Counselor and Supervisor. He specializes in menopausal health, hormone therapy, sexual pain disorders, vulvar disorders and loss of libido, chronic medical illness, and medical devices and their impact on female sexual function. 

In addition to being an active reviewer for the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Dr. Krychman has published seven books, including his most recent one: The Sexual Spark, 20 Essential Exercises to Reignite the Passion, 100 Questions & Answers for Women Living with Cancer: A Practical Guide to Female Cancer Survivorship.

Dr. Krychman has been featured by several national shows and publications, including the Today Show, US News, and World Report, in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Health Magazine. He has been named a Top  Orange County Physician of Excellence by Orange Coast Magazine in Survivorship, Sexual Medicine, Vulvar Care, and Menopause for the last seven years. He is currently a clinical health professor at the University of California Irvine and is a nationally known specialty in cancer survivorship; Dr. Krychman provides medical care at Ann’s Clinic, a High-Risk Breast, and Ovarian Cancer Center.

You dream of opening your own practice, but where do you start? Hear from HERmd founder, Dr. Somi Javaid, on what it's really like to start your own practice, be your own boss, and provide the type of healthcare you always set out to deliver to your patients. She talks about her journey and answers many of the questions you maybe asking like  "What do I need to make my business succeed?" "What are the pitfalls I should avoid?" and "What team do I need in place to open my doors?"

Owning a small business is tough enough during normal times. The COVID-19 brought unprecedented challenges to medical practices and other small businesses. We discuss concrete steps our practice took to preserve cash flow, take care of our team and even find new opportunities to better serve our patients.

How do you grow your practice? From attracting new patients, establishing new services and products, to increasing revenue, an effective marketing and business development plan is essential to grow your practice. Learn how the HERmd team grew their flagship Cincinnati location to 7000 patients in just over 4 years. We’ll provide basic strategies to help you build your business, from branding and lead generation to the use of social media and email marketing.  

Starting your own business is an investment in yourself. You have the skills and experience you need to succeed, but how much will you need to invest to get started? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail within their first year and roughly 50% fail by the end of their fifth year. We’ll discuss strategies we implemented to maximize our returns and make sure we didn’t become another statistic. 

Women's sexual health has been ignored - until now. Women are ready to have the conversation about their sexual health and to seek treatment, yet only 30% of OBGYNs are trained to treat women experiencing sexual health issues. Learn why you should train in sexual health and offer treatment options to your patients in your office.

Medical Aesthetics is a revenue stream that shouldn't be ignored. Learn how medical aesthetics can help you build your practice. From improved patient care, to increased revenue, and bringing in new patients, learn how your investment will lead to ROI.

The female sexual health revolution is here. As the gender gap becomes more widely addressed with respect to health disparities, so does femtech’s power to advance women’s healthcare. Hear from Dr. Lyndsey Harper, CEO and Founder of Rosy Wellness on the evolution of femtech in healthcare and the creation of Rosy - the game changing app that is improving sexual health for millions of women everywhere.

Millions of women suffer from painful sex, yet they feel alone. Many think it is normal to experience painful sex, and they should learn to just cope. Ohnut Founder and CEO, Emily Sauer and HERmd Founder and CEO Dr. Somi Javaid discuss painful sex and Emily’s story - her experience with painful sex, the founding of Ohnut, and how Ohnut is changing the conversation about painful sex, with a mission-driven wearable that customizes penetration depth.

It was 2015 when Addyi first came on the market. It took 6 years, nearly fourteen thousand test subjects, and a black box label before it cleared the FDA. It was the first, and until 2019 the ONLY FDA approved drug to treat HSDD in women. Viagra on the other hand was fast tracked in 6 months with just four thousand test subjects. Why? In Episode 9, we talk with Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of the Pink Ceiling, about her story, from the creation of Addyi, to taking on the FDA, and becoming a voice for the millions of women who suffer from HSDD. 

21.2 million, or 29.2%, of women aged 14 - 49 have been diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis, or BV, is a type of vaginal inflammation caused by the overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina, which upsets the natural balance. BV is the most common vaginal condition in women ages 15 to 44, but women of any age can get it. BV is treatable, but, if left untreated, it can raise your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cause problems during pregnancy. With so many women affected, why are we not talking about it? And why do so many women experience a delay in diagnosis? Daniella Levy, co-founder and CEO of HappyV shares her story on Episode 10 of HERvoice - from battling BV, to fighting the stigma in her community around vaginal health and hygiene to the founding of HappyV. 

The Institute of Medicine defines healthcare disparities as “racial or ethnic differences in the quality of healthcare that are not due to access-related factors or clinical needs, preferences, and appropriateness of intervention.” 

Racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive poorer quality of care compared with non-minorities, even when access-related factors, such as insurance status and income, are controlled. The sources of racial and ethnic health care disparities include differences in geography, lack of access to adequate health coverage, communication difficulties between patient and provider, cultural barriers, provider stereotyping, and lack of access to providers. In addition, disparities in the healthcare system contribute to the overall disparities in health status that affect racial and ethnic minorities.

What does this mean? Black Americans simply are not receiving the same quality of healthcare that their white counterparts receive. And yes, this is still happening in the year 2020.

By the age of 50, 70% of white women and 80% of black women are diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Yet, many women suffer in silence. Women may not even know they have fibroids. How is this possible? As a society, we don’t talk about our periods - we don’t talk about what is “normal” when it comes to our periods, and what may be cause for concern.  Many of us also do not know what fibroids even are or that fibroids can cause serious health issues like heavy menstrual bleeding,  severe cramps, painful sex and infertility.

During Episode 12, we spoke with Tanika Gray Valbrun, the founder of The White Dress Project - an organization dedicated to raising funds for research and awareness for uterine fibroids in hopes that women with fibroids will be empowered and will no longer have to suffer in silence. It’s time for us all to have the conversation and normalize talking about women’s periods.

Finding fulfillment and purpose in what we do can be challenging. The everyday stress of life and work can often leave us feeling like we are emotionally empty at the end of the day. But, by allowing ourselves to prioritize self-care we can begin to live a life with purpose. #ChooseYou is powerful - it allows us to see self-care as a necessity to our overall health and well-being and not something we are “indulging” in. During episode 13, we spoke with  Dr. Jessica Geida, an OBGYN and the physician behind Smiles and Scrubs. Her mission is to provide proof that it is possible to #ChooseYou. Her mission is to motivate and empower women everywhere to choose a life they’re proud to live.

The mind-body connection can have implications for emotional and physical health, both in and out of the bedroom. Our sexual health is intimately tied to our emotions - positive emotions such as joy, desire, and excitement boost physical pleasure and satisfaction. At the same time, negative emotions can hinder sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Depression, distraction, irritability, stress, and sexual dysfunction can affect not only the ability to have sex but also your ability to remain present and fully enjoy sex and intimacy. Healthy sexuality and intimacy often starts with emotions associated with sex. 

If you are unable to enjoy sex, or are having problems with your partner in the bedroom, sex therapy can help. During this episode, we spoke with Emma Schmidt, founder of Emma Schmidt and Associates, a practice dedicated to promoting healthy sexuality and intimate relationships. Their mission is to promote healthy sexuality and great intimate relationships. We'll hear about Emma’s personal experience of sexual concerns in her marriage, how it inspired her to become a certified sex therapist, and how sex therapy can help individuals and couples.

Research has found that far fewer women than men are having orgasms during sex.  When we look at sex and orgasms more specifically, the vast majority of women do not orgasm from vaginal penetration alone. Most women can only experience orgasm with clitoral stimulation. So, what can we do to close this pleasure gap and have more (and better!) orgasms? 

During this episode we talk with Alex Fine, co-founder of Dame Products, who is on a mission to close the pleasure gap by creating toys for sex - with women in mind. Dame’s first product, the Eva, has won multiple design awards. It’s a hands-free vibrator that gives women clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex - unlike anything else on the market. And while this is amazing - she found herself challenged in her ability to advertise her product, while male-focused companies with sexual messages had no problems advertising. Women’s sexual health is an important and integral part of our overall health - and women like Alex Fine are helping to revolutionize women’s sexual health. 

Approximately 57% of high school seniors are sexually active. Studies have shown that those who are more well informed about sex are in less of a hurry to lose their virginity. As Abigail and I are navigating our first year of college, we found that the stigma of sex is very different than high school, and a lot of girls have certain "sexpectations" and “goals” that they want to hit before they reach a certain age. 

What teenagers learn in sex education is the tip of the iceberg, as most of the time the only aspect that is discussed is how to reproduce, and not much of the feelings or emotions that go beyond it. Today, we are going to discuss the undiscussed parts of sex, and what we feel are very important conversations to be had. 

75% of women experience sexual pain at some point. Yes, 75%. Why are we not talking about it more? We are told sex will hurt the first time, and for many that may be the case - but sex should not continually hurt. Why, as women, are we not told that we may experience pain during sex and that it is NOT normal?  

There are many reasons a woman may experience painful sex - it could be a gynecologic problem such as ovarian cysts or endometriosis. Painful sex can also be due to vaginal dryness which can be caused by a lack of desire (the feeling of wanting to have sex) or a lack of arousal (the physical and emotional response of our bodies when we are sexually stimulated). It can also be due to past physical or emotional trauma.

Pain can be felt in your vulva, the perineum, and even your lower back, pelvic region, uterus or bladder.  If you are experiencing sexual pain, you are not alone, it is not normal and there ARE treatment options for you. Women can experience painful sex at any age - if you feel that you are experiencing painful sex talk with your healthcare provider - you know your body better than anyone.

In this week's episode, we are joined by one of our patients, Emily, who experienced painful sex. She shares her story - from trying to find information and support, to finding a healthcare provider who would listen to her, to the impact it had on her life and relationship, treatment, and her life now.

Why do so many women settle for bad sex? Many of us have experienced it, and yet, we don’t talk about it that much.  As women we often see ourselves in the role of satisfying men while ignoring our own sexual satisfaction. We fake orgasms and go through the motions to make sure our partners are sexually fulfilled and oftentimes, it is just easier to have bad sex than to talk with our partners about it. 

Talking about bad sex can be tricky conversation - it can be embarrassing, it can lead to arguments, or hurt feelings.  During this episode we discuss why so many of us keep having bad sex, ways to talk with your partner about it, and what you can do to get on the road to better sex!

Irregular periods, hot flashes, sexual dysfunction, mood swings - you may be experiencing perimenopause and YES, there are treatment options to help women manage the 34 symptoms associated with perimenopause. 

So, what exactly is perimenopause?  Perimenopause means "around menopause" and is the time in a woman’s life where her body is making the natural transition to menopause. Women experience the start of perimenopause at different ages, most in their 40’s, but it can start as early as in their 30’s.

Changes in hormone levels - estrogen and progesterone - may be the cause of many of the symptoms and somewhat sudden changes women experience during perimenopause. Perimenopause can last anywhere from a few months to over a decade! That is a long time to "just deal with" the symptoms you are experiencing when they are affecting your well-being, your relationships, your sexual health. No woman should ever be told to "just deal with it."

During this episode, we talk to one of our patients, Lori B., who gets real about her experience with perimenopause - from feeling almost out of her body, to not wanting to have sex and avoiding it, hormonal fluctuations, and managing her emotions and relationships with her partner and children. This is an episode every woman will want to hear - you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll know that you are not alone.

40 - 100% of cancer patients struggle with some type of sexual dysfunction. For breast cancer survivors, the diagnosis of breast cancer encompasses not only physical, but also social and psychological concerns due to the importance of the breasts with respect to body image, sexuality and motherhood.

Treatments that cancer patients undergo can have a large impact on sexual function: chemotherapy, surgery, hormonal manipulation, and radiation therapy can all impact a patient’s sexual health. Drugs that are prescribed to patients with cancer can also negatively impact sexual function.

When a patient's sexual functioning is compromised as a result of cancer treatment, so is her quality of life. 

Survivors of cancer often don’t feel comfortable bringing up sexual functioning concerns to their oncologist - this is why it is so important for providers to talk with their patients about their sexual health and why ASCO  - a national organization of oncologists and other cancer care providers - published guidelines that state “for all people diagnosed with cancer, a member of the patient’s healthcare team should initiate a discussion on sexual health and any sexual problems caused by the cancer or its treatment.”

Although women can experience many issues related to sexual functioning, including emotional distress, difficulty with orgasm, and arousal disorder, the two most common concerns are low desire and painful sex (dyspareunia). 

During this episode, our patient Katherine M. tells her story - from her diagnosis of breast cancer at age 28, to the impact it had on her both physically and emotionally,  to the impact it had on her sexual health, and what her life is like now.

Imagine receiving a life-changing phone call. What would it be about? Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem Biosciences received that phone call in 2018. It was her doctor on the other line. She had stage 3 breast cancer. 

Saundra is not only a CEO, she is also a mother and a true advocate for women. When she received that phone call, she was in the midst of a Phase 3 clinical trial of what is now known as Phexxi, a non-hormonal contraceptive gel for women. She embarked on aggressive treatment for her cancer, all while never taking a leave of absence. She was on a mission to revolutionize women’s healthcare - and nothing could stop this force of nature - not even cancer. 

During this episode, Saundra candidly shares the impact cancer and her treatment had on her and her relationship and how she fought her illness while successfully running her company - all while raising $400+ million dollars and achieving FDA approval for Phexxi - forever changing the lives of millions of women.

In this episode of HerVoice we’re talking with Libby, a patient of ours who came to us with several sexual health issues including vaginismus (Vaginismus is the body's automatic reaction to the fear of vaginal penetration. Whenever penetration is attempted, the vaginal muscles tighten up on their own. Women have no control over it.), vulvodynia (chronic pain in the vulva), and decreased libido (or decreased interest in sexual activity.)

She began experiencing a lot of pain in her vulvar area in her 20's - pain came with intercourse, inserting a tampon, or any type of contact with her labia and vulva. She didn't know what was causing the pain and sought out care.  When Libby talked with her friends, no one could relate to her healthcare concerns. She embarked on a healthcare journey and was left feeling hopeless. When talking with her healthcare providers no one mentioned the word vulvodynia, no one offered her treatment options. Libby felt isolated and lived with sexual pain for years before she was even able to receive a diagnosis. 

Libby’s story, unfortunately, is all too common for many women who seek out a diagnosis for their sexual healthcare concerns only to be left dismissed and hopeless. In this episode she bravely shares her story of struggling with sexual dysfunction, the impact it had on her life and her relationships and finding hope again.

Over 50 million women in the US are menopausal, yet, there is still a lack of education and awareness around menopausal symptoms and treatment options. Why is society still not ready to talk openly (and without shame or stigma!) about menopause and its symptoms? 

The latest episode of the HerVoice podcast is focused on talking all things menopause with Womaness founders Sally Mueller and Michelle Jacobs. We’re talking symptoms, treatment options, cultural views on menopause, and menopause as the (not so silent) glass ceiling. Women are in the prime of their lives when they experience menopause - why are we not celebrating this time and giving women the information they need to treat their symptoms so they can live their lives to the fullest. As Sally and Michelle say, it’s the afterparty, and we at HerMD can’t think of a better way to reframe the conversation around menopause.