How Trauma Makes You Say Yes When You Mean No

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Most women can name every product in their skincare routine but can’t tell you the last time they actually paid attention to their vulva. Not because you don’t care — because nobody ever taught you to. And that silence is costing women their pleasure, their comfort, and sometimes their health.

In this episode, I sit down with OB-GYN and women’s sexual health expert Dr. Sherry Ross — author of the V-ology book series and someone I consider one of the most important voices in women’s intimate health — for the most practical, shame-free conversation about vulva and vaginal health I’ve ever had on this show.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why your vulva needs the same care and attention as your face — and what most of us are getting completely wrong about cleaning, moisturizing, and maintaining vaginal health at every age
• The truth about painful sex, perimenopause, and recurring infections — what’s actually causing them, why doctors keep dismissing the symptoms, and the solutions most women have never been told about
• Whether every woman can learn to squirt, what your labia is supposed to look like, and why the clitoris — the road to success — might be the most important thing you’re not paying enough attention to

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Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
1:51 – Caller #1 (Jamie, 44): Partner Chatting with Sex Workers Online — Is It Cheating?
9:46 – Dr. Emily’s Takeaway: Masturbation in Relationships & Staying Curious
10:30 – Caller #2 (Damian, 28): His Wife Is Grossed Out by Touching Herself
16:09 – Caller #3 (Lacy, 25): Love Bombed on a First Date, Then Blocked
23:55 – Caller #4 (Rachel, 25): Getting Back Into Sex After a Long Break
32:23 – Caller #5 (Karina): Dating After Trauma & Learning to Say No
41:00 – Dr. Emily’s Final Word: Your No Can Be a Not Yet